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oint if he could prevail with the Court not to insist upon the necessity of the Cardinal's presence； because then all the honour of the arrangement； in which the Duc d'Orleans； as usual； would only be as a cipher； would redound to him； and that such exclusion of the Cardinal would disgrace his Ministry to the last degree； and be a very proper preface to the blow which the Prince designed to give him in the Cabinet。
The Prince profited by the hint； so that the Parliament returned answer that they would send deputies to confer with the Princes only； which last words the Prince artfully laid hold of and advised Mazarin not to expose himself by coming to the conference against the Parliament's consent； but rather； like a wise man； to make a virtue of the present necessity。 This was a cruel blow to the Cardinal； who ever since the decease of the late King had been recognised as Prime Minister of France； and the consequences were equally disastrous。
The deputies being accordingly admitted to a conference with the Duc d'Orleans； the Princes de Conde and Conti and M。 de Longueville； the First President； Viole； who had moved in Parliament that the decree might be renewed for excluding foreigners from the Ministry； inveighed against the imprisonment of M。 de Chavigni； who was no member； yet the President insisted upon his being set at liberty； because； according to the laws of the realm； no person ought to be detained in custody above twenty…four hours without examination。 This occasioned a considerable debate； and the Duc d'Orldans； provoked at this expression； said that the President's aim was to cramp the royal authority。 Nevertheless the latter vigorously maintained his argument； and was unanimously seconded by all the deputies； for which they were next day applauded in Parliament。 In short； the thing was pushed so far that the Queen was obliged to consent to a declaration that for the future no man whatever should be detained in prison above three days without being examined。 By this means Chavigni was set at liberty。 Several other conferences were held； in which the Chancellor treated the First President of the Parliament with a sort of contempt that was almost brutal。 Nevertheless the Parliament carried all before them。
In October； 1648； the Parliament adjourned； and the Queen soon after returned to Paris with the King。
The Cardinal； who aimed at nothing more than to ruin my credit with the people； sent me 4；000 crowns as a present from the Queen； for the services which she said I intended her on the day of the barricade； and who； think you； should be the messenger to bring it but my friend the Marechal de La Meilleraye； the man who before warned me of the sinister intentions of the Court； and who now was so credulous as to believe that I was their favourite； because the Cardinal was pleased to say how much he was concerned for the injustice he had done me； which I only mention to remark that those people over whom the Court has once got an ascendency cannot help believing whatever they would have them believe； and the ministers only are to blame if they do not deceive them。 But I would not be persuaded by the Marshal as he had been by the Cardinal； and therefore I refused the said sum very civilly； and； I am sure； with as much sincerity as the Court offered it。
But the Cardinal laid another trap for me that I was not aware of；by tempting me with the proffer of the Government of Paris； and when I had shown a willingness to accept it； he found means to break off the treaty I was making for that purpose with the Prince de Guemende； who had the reversion of it； and then represented me to the people as one who only sought my own interest。 Instead of profiting by this blunder； which I might have done to my own advantage； I added another to it； and said all that rage could prompt me against the Cardinal to one who told it to him again。
To return now to public affairs。 About the feast of Saint Martin the people were so excited that they seemed as if they had been all intoxicated with gathering in the vintage； and you are now going to be entertained with scenes in comparison to which the past are but trifles。
There is no affair but has its critical minute； which a bold statesmanship knows how to lay hold of； and which； if missed； especially in the revolution of kingdoms； you run the great risk of losing altogether。
Every one now found their advantage in the declaration；that is； if they understood their own interest。 The Parliament had the honour of reestablishing public order。 The Princes； too； had their share in this honour； and the first…fruits of it； which were respect and security。 The people had a considerable comfort in it； by being eased of a load of above sixty millions； and if the Cardinal had had but the sense to make a virtue of necessity； which is one of the most necessary qualifications of a minister of State； he might； by an advantage always inseparable from favourites； have appropriated to himself the greatest part of the merit； even of those things he had most opposed。
But these advantages were all lost through the most trivial considerations。 The people； upon the discontinuation of the Parliamentary assemblies； resumed their savage temper； and were scared by the approach of a few troops at which it was ridiculous to take the least umbrage。 The Parliament was too apt to give ear to every groundless tale of the non…execution of their declarations。 The Duc d'Orleans saw all the good he was capable of doing and part of the evil he had power to prevent； but neither was strong enough to influence his fearful temper； he was unconscious of the coming and fatal blow。 The Prince de Conde； who saw the evil to its full extent； was too courageous by nature to fear the consequences； he was inclined to do good； but would do it only in his own way。 His age； his humour； and his victories hindered him from associating patience with activity； nor was he acquainted； unfortunately； with this maxim so necessary for princes；〃always to sacrifice the little affairs to the greater；〃 and the Cardinal； being ignorant of our ways； daily confounded the most weighty with the most trifling。
The Parliament； who met on the 2d of January； 1649； resolved to enforce the execution of the declaration； which； they pretended； had been infringed in all its articles； and the Queen was resolved to retire from Paris with the King and the whole Court。 The Queen was guided by the Cardinal； and the Duc d'Orleans by La Riviere； the most sordid and self… interested man of the age in which he lived。 As for the Prince de Conde； he began to be disgusted with the unseasonable proceedings of the Parliament almost as soon as he had concerted measures with Broussel and Longueil； which distaste； joined to the kindly attentions of the Queen； the apparent submission of the Cardinal； and an hereditary inclination received from his parents to keep well with the Court； cramped the resolutions of his great soul。 I bewailed this change in his behaviour both for my own and the public account； but much more for his sake。 I loved him as much as I honoured him； and clearly saw the precipice。
I had divers conferences with him； in which I fo