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alarmed at his reestablishment； because this man； who knew Paris better than the Cardinal； distributed money among the people to a very good purpose。 This is a singular science； which is either very beneficial or hurtful in its consequences； according to the wisdom or folly of the distributor。
These donations； laid out with discretion and secrecy； obliged us to yield ourselves more and more unto the bulk of the people； and； finding a fit opportunity for this performance； we took care not to let it slip； which； if they had been ruled by me； we should not have done so soon； for we were not yet forced to make use of such expedients。 It is not safe in a faction where you are only upon the defensive to do what you are not pressed to do； but the uneasiness of the subalterns on such occasions is troublesome； because they believe that as soon as you seem to be inactive all is lost。 I preached every day that the way was yet rough； and therefore must be made plain； and that patience in the present case was productive of greater effects than activity； but nobody comprehended the truth of what I said。
An unlucky expression； dropped on this occasion by the Princesse de Guemenee； had an incredible influence upon the people。 She called to mind a ballad formerly made upon the regiment of Brulon； which was said to consist of only two dragoons and four drummers； and； inasmuch as she hated the Fronde； she told me very pleasantly that our party； being reduced to fourteen； might be justly compared to that regiment of Brulon。 Noirmoutier and Laigues were offended at this expression to that degree that they continually murmured because I neither settled affairs nor pushed them to the last extremity。 Upon which I observed that heads of factions are no longer their masters when they are unable either to prevent or allay the murmurs of the people。
The revenues of the Hotel de Ville； which are； as it were； the patrimony of the bourgeois； and which； if well managed； might be of special service to the King in securing to his interest an infinite number of those people who are always the most formidable in revolutionsthis sacred fund； I say； suffered much by the licentiousness of the times； the ignorance of Mazarin； and the prevarication of the officers of the Hotel de Ville； who were his dependents； so that the poor annuitants met in great numbers at the Hotel de Ville； but as such assemblies without the Prince's authority are reckoned illegal； the Parliament passed a decree to suppress them。 They were privately countenanced by M。 de Beaufort and me； to whom they sent a solemn deputation； and they made choice of twelve syndics to be a check upon the 'prevot des marchands'。
On the 11th of December a pistol； as had been concerted beforehand； was fired into the coach of Joly； one of the syndics； which President Charton； another of the syndics； thinking was aimed at himself； the Marquis de la Boulaie ran as if possessed with a devil； while the Parliament was sitting； into the middle of the Great Hall； with fifteen or twenty worthless fellows crying out 〃To Arms！〃 He did the like in the streets； but in vain； and came to Broussel and me； but the former reprimanded him after his way； and I threatened to throw him out at the window； for I had reason to believe that he acted in concert with the Cardinal； though he pretended to be a Frondeur。
This artifice of Servien united the Prince to the Cardinal； because he found himself obliged to defend himself against the Frondeurs； who； as he believed； sought to assassinate him。 All those that were his own creatures thought they were not zealous enough for his service if they did not exaggerate the imminent danger he had escaped； and the Court parasites confounded the morning adventure with that at night； and upon this coarse canvas they daubed all that the basest flattery； blackest imposture； and the most ridiculous credulity was capable of imagining； and we were informed the next morning that it was the common rumour over all the city that we had formed a design of seizing the King's person and carrying him to the Hotel de Ville； and to assassinate the Prince。
M。 de Beaufort and I agreed to go out and show ourselves to the people； whom we found in such a consternation that I believed the Court might then have attacked us with success。 Madame de Montbazon advised us to take post…horses and ride off； saying that there was nothing more easy than to destroy us； because we had put ourselves into the hands of our sworn enemies。 I said that we had better hazard our lives than our honour。 To which she replied； 〃It is not that； but your nymphs； I believe； which keep you here〃 （meaning Mesdames de Chevreuse and Guemenee）。 〃I expect；〃 she said； 〃to be befriended for my own sake； and don't I deserve it？ I cannot conceive how you can be amused by a wicked old hag and a girl； if possible； still more foolish。 We are continually disputing about that silly wretch 〃 （pointing to M。 de Beaufort； who was playing chess）； 〃let us take him with us and go to Peronne。〃
You are not to wonder that she talked thus contemptibly of M。 de Beaufort； whom she always taxed with impotency； for it is certain that his love was purely Platonic； as he never asked any favour of her； and seemed very uneasy with her for eating flesh on Fridays。 She was so sweet upon me； and withal such a charming beauty； that； being naturally indisposed to let such opportunities slip； I was melted into tenderness for her； notwithstanding my suspicions of her； considering the then situation of affairs； and would have had her go with me into the cabinet； but she was determined first to go to Peronne； which put an end to our amours。
Beaufort waited on the Prince and was well received； but I could not gain admittance。
On the 14th the Prince de Conde went to Parliament and demanded that a committee might be appointed to inquire into the attempt made on his life。
The Frondeurs were not asleep in the meantime； yet most of our friends were dispirited； and all very weak。
The cures of Paris were my most hearty friends； they laboured with incredible zeal among the people。 And the cure of Saint Gervais sent me this message： 〃Do but rally again and get off the assassination； and in a week you will be stronger than your enemies。
I was informed that the Queen had written to my uncle； the Archbishop of Paris； to be sure to go to the Parliament on the 23d； the day that Beaufort； Broussel； and I were to be impeached； because I had no right to sit in the House if he were present。 I begged of him not to go； but my uncle being a man of little sense； and that much out of order； and being； moreover； fearful and ridiculously jealous of me； had promised the Queen to go； and all that we could get out of him was that he would defend me in Parliament better than I could defend myself。 It is to be observed that though he chattered to us like a magpie in private； yet in public he was as mute as a fish。 A surgeon who was in the Archbishop's service； going to visit him； commended him for his courage in resisting the importunities of his nephew； who； said he； had a mind to bury him alive； and encouraged him to rise with all haste and go to the Parliament House；