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f the people were not yet cured of their diffidence； and therefore I was very glad when I had got the Prince into the Grand Chamber。 The moment after； M。 d'Elbeuf came in with the city guards； who attended him as general； and with all the people crying out； 〃God bless his Highness M。 d'Elbeuf！〃 But as they cried at the same time 〃God save the Coadjutor！〃 I addressed myself to him with a smile and said； 〃This is an echo； monsieur； which does me a great deal of honour。〃〃It is very kind of you；〃 said he； and； turning to the guards； bade them stay at the door of the Grand Chamber。 I took the order as given to myself； and stayed there likewise； with a great number of my friends。 As soon as the House was formed； the Prince de Conti stood up and said that； having been made acquainted at Saint Germain with the pernicious counsels given to the Queen； he thought himself obliged； as Prince of the blood； to oppose them。 M。 d'Elbeuf； who was proud and insolent； like all weak men； because he thought he had the strongest party； said he knew the respect due to the Prince de Conti； but that he could not forbear telling them that it was himself who first broke the ice and offered his service to the Parliament； who； having conferred the General's baton upon him； he would never part with it but with his life。
The generality of the members； who were as distrustful of the Prince de Conti as the people； applauded this declaration； and the Parliament passed a decree forbidding the troops on pain of high treason to advance within twenty miles of Paris。 I saw that all I could do that day was to reconduct the Prince de Conti in safety to the palace of Longueville； for the crowd was so great that I was fain to carry him； as it were； in my arms out of the Grand Chamber。
M。 d'Elbeuf； who thought the day was all his own； hearing my name joined with his in the huzzas of the people； said to me by way of reprisal； 〃This； monsieur； is an echo which does me a great deal of honour；〃 to which I replied； as he did to me before； 〃Monsieur； it is very kind of you。〃 Meantime he was not wise enough to improve the opportunity； and I foresaw that things would soon take another turn； for reputation of long standing among the people never fails to blast the tender blossoms of public good…will which are forced out of due season。
I had news sent to me from Madame de Lesdiguieres at Saint Germain； that M。 d'Elbeuf； an hour after he heard of the arrival of the Prince de Conti and M。 de Longueville at Paris； wrote a letter to the Abbe de la Riviere with these words： 〃Tell the Queen and the Duc d'Orleans that this diabolical Coadjutor is the ruin of everything here； and that in two days I shall have no power at all； but that if they will be kind to me I will make them sensible。 I am not come hither with so bad a design as they imagine。〃 I made a very good use of this advice； and； knowing that the people are generally fond of everything that seems mysterious； I imparted the secret to four or five hundred persons。 I had the pleasure to hear that the confidence which the Prince had reposed in the people by going about all alone in my coach； without any attendance； had won their hearts。
At midnight M。 de Longueville； Marechal de La Mothe； and myself went to M。 de Bouillon； whom we found as wavering as the state of affairs； but when we showed him our plan； and how easily it might be executed； he joined us immediately。 We concerted measures； and I gave out orders to all the colonels and captains of my acquaintance。
The most dangerous blow that I gave to M。 d'Elbeuf was by making the people believe that he held correspondence with the King's troops； who on the 9th； at night； surprised Charenton。 I met him on the first report of it； when he said； 〃Would you think there are people so wicked as to say that I had a hand in the capture of Charenton？〃 I said in answer； 〃Would you think there are people vile enough to report that the Prince de Conti is come hither by concert with the Prince de Conde？〃
When I saw the people pretty well cured of their diffidence； and not so zealous as they were for M。 d'Elbeuf； I was for mincing the matter no longer； and thought that ostentation would be as proper to…day as reserve was yesterday。 The Prince de Conti took M。 de Longueville to the Parliament House； where he offered them his services； together with all Normandy； and desired they would accept of his wife； son； and daughter； and keep them in the Hotel de Ville as pledges of his sincerity。 He was seconded by M。 de Bouillon； who said he was exceedingly glad to serve the Parliament under the command of so great a Prince as the Prince de Conti。 M。 d'Elbeuf was nettled at this expression； and repeated what he had said before； that he would not part with the General's staff； and he showed more warmth than judgment in the whole debate。 He spoke nothing to the purpose。 It was too late to dispute； and he was obliged to yield； but I have observed that fools yield only when they cannot help it。 We tried his patience a third time by the appearance of Marechal de La Mothe； who passed the same compliment upon the company as De Bouillon had done。 We had concerted beforehand that these personages should make their appearance upon the theatre one after the other； for we had remarked that nothing so much affects the people； and even the Parliament； among whom the people are a majority； as a variety of scenes。
I took Madame de Longueville and Madame de Bouillon in a coach by way of triumph to the Hotel de Ville。 They were both of rare beauty； and appeared the more charming because of a careless air； the more becoming to both because it was unaffected。 Each held one of her children； beautiful as the mother； in her arms。 The place was so full of people that the very tops of the houses were crowded； all the men shouted and the women wept for joy and affection。 I threw five hundred pistoles out of the window of the Hotel de Ville； and went again to the Parliament House； accompanied by a vast number of people； some with arms and others without。 M。 d'Elbeuf's captain of the guards told his master that he was ruined to all intents and purposes if he did not accommodate himself to the present position of affairs； which was the reason that I found him much perplexed and dejected； especially when M。 de Bellievre； who had amused him hitherto designedly； came in and asked what meant the beating of the drums。 I answered that he would hear more very soon； and that all honest men were quite out of patience with those that sowed divisions among the people。 I saw then that wisdom in affairs of moment is nothing without courage。 M。 d'Elbeuf had little courage at this juncture； made a ridiculous explanation of what he had said before； and granted more than he was desired to do； and it was owing to the civility and good sense of M。 de Bouillon that he retained the title of General and the precedence of M。 de Bouillon and M。 de La Mothe； who were equally Generals with himself under the Prince de Conti； who was from that instant declared Generalissimo of the King's forces under the direction of the Parliament。
There happened at this time a comical scene in the Hotel de Ville； which I mention mor