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declare yourself openly the protector of the public and of the sovereign companies； you might govern themat least； for a considerable timewith an absolute and almost sovereign authority。 But this； it seems； is not what you have in view； you are not willing to embroil yourself with the Court。 You had rather be of the Cabinet than of a party。 Do not take it ill； then； that men who consider you only in this light do not conduct themselves as you would like。 You ought to conform your measures to theirs； because theirs are moderate； and you may safely do it； for the Cardinal can hardly stand under the heavy weight of the public hatred； and is too weak to oblige you against your will to any sudden and precipitate rupture。 La Riviere； who governs the Duc d'Orleans； is a most dangerous man。 Continue； then； to introduce moderate measures； and let them take their course； according to your first plan。 Is a little more or less heat in Parliamentary proceedings sufficient reason to make you alter it？ For whatever be the consequence； the worst that can happen is that the Queen may believe you not zealous enough for her interest； but are there not remedies enough for that？ Are there not excuses and appearances ready at hand； and such as cannot fail？
〃And now； I pray your Highness to give me leave to add that there never was so excellent； so innocent； so sacred； and so necessary a project as this formed by your Highness； and； in my humble opinion； there never were such weak reasons as those you have now urged to hinder its execution； for I take this to be the weakest of all； which； perhaps； you think a very strong one； namely； that if Mazarin miscarries in his designs you may be ruined along with him； and if he does succeed he will destroy you by the very means which you took to raise him。〃
It had not the intended effect on the Prince； who was already prepossessed； and who only answered me in general terms。 But heroes have their faults as well as other men； and so had his Highness； who had one of the finest geniuses in the world； but little or no forethought。 He did not seek to aggravate matters in order to render himself necessary at Court； or with a view to do what he afterwards did for the Cardinal； nor was he biassed by the mean interests of pension； government； and establishment。 He had most certainly great hopes of being arbiter of the Cabinet。 The glory of being restorer of the public peace was his first end in view； and being the conservator of the royal authority the second。 Those who labour under such an imperfection； though they see clearly the advantages and disadvantages of both parties； know not which to choose； because they do not weigh them in the same balance； so that the same thing appears lightest today which they will think heaviest to…morrow。 This was the case of the Prince； who； it must be owned； if he had carried on his good design with prudence； certainly would have reestablished the Government upon a lasting foundation。
He told me more than once； in an angry mood； that if the Parliament went on at the old rate he would teach them that it would be no great task to reduce them to reason。 I perceived by his talk that the Court had resumed the design of besieging Paris； and to be the more satisfied of it I told him that the Cardinal might easily be disappointed in his measures； and that he would find Paris to be a very tough morsel。
〃It shall not be taken；〃 he said； 〃like Dunkirk； by mines and storming； but suppose its bread from Gonesse should be cut off for eight days only？〃
I took this statement then for granted； and replied that the stopping of that passage would be attended with difficulties。
〃What difficulties？〃 asked the Prince； very briskly。 〃The citizens？ Will they come out to give battle？〃
〃If it were only citizens； monseigneur；〃 I said； 〃the battle would not be very sharp。〃
〃Who will be with them？〃 he replied； 〃will you be there yourself？〃
〃That would be a very bad omen；〃 I said； 〃it would look too much like the proceedings of the League。〃
After a little pause； he said； 〃But now； to be serious； would you be so foolish as to embark with those men？〃
〃You know； monseigneur；〃 I said； 〃that I am engaged already； and that； moreover； as Coadjutor of Paris； I am concerned both by honour and interest in its preservation。 I shall be your Highness's humble servant as long as I live； except in this one point。〃
I saw he was touched to the quick； but he kept his temper； and said these very words： 〃When you engage in a bad cause I will pity you； but shall have no reason to complain of you。 Nor do you complain of me； but do me that justice you owe me； namely； to own that all I promised to Longueil and Broussel is since annulled by the conduct of the Parliament。〃
He afterwards showed me many personal favours； and offered to make my peace with the Court。 I assured him of my obedience and zeal for his service in everything that did not interfere with the engagements I had entered into； which； as he himself owned； I could not possibly avoid。
After we parted I paid a visit to Madame de Longueville； who seemed enraged both against the Court and the Prince de Conde。 I was pleased to think； moreover； that she could do what she would with the Prince de Conti； who was little better than a child； but then I considered that this child was a Prince of the blood； and it was only a name we wanted to give life to that which； without one； was a mere embryo。 I could answer for M。 de Longueville； who loved to be the first man in any public revolution； and I was as well assured of Marechal de La Mothe；＇Philippe de La Mothe…Houdancourt； deceased 1657。＇ who was madly opposed to the Court； and had been inviolably attached to M。 de Longueville for twenty years together。 I saw that the Duc de Bouillon； through the injustice done him by the Court and the unfortunate state of his domestic affairs； was very much annoyed and almost desperate。 I had an eye upon all these gentlemen at a distance； but thought neither of them fit to open the drama。 M。 de Longueville was only fit for the second act； the Marechal de La Mothe was a good soldier； but had no headpiece； and was therefore not qualified for the first act。 M。 de Bouillon was my man； had not his honesty been more problematic than his talents。 You will not wonder that I was so wavering in my choice； and that I fixed at last upon the Prince de Conti； of the blood of France。
As soon as I gave Madame de Longueville a hint of what part she was to act in the intended revolution； she was perfectly transported； and I took care to make M。 de Longueville as great a malcontent as herself。 She had wit and beauty； though smallpox had taken away the bloom of her pretty face； in which there sat charms so powerful that they rendered her one of the most amiable persons in France。 I could have placed her in my heart between Mesdames de Gudmenee and Pommereux； and it was not the despair of succeeding that palled my passion； but the consideration that the benefice was not yet vacant； though not well served；M。 de La Rochefoucault was in possession； yet absent in Poitou。 I sent her three or four billets…doux every day； and received as many。 I went very of