How He Squandered His Time.--His Impenetrability.--Scandal of His Life.-- Public Balls at the Opera.

CHAPTER LXXXII

First Appearance of Law.--His Banking Project Supported by the Regent.-- Discussed by the Regent with Me.--Approved by the Council and Registered. --My Interviews with Law.--His Reasons for Seeking My Friendship.-- Arouet de Voltaire

CHAPTER LXXXIII

Rise of Alberoni.--Intimacy of France and England.--Gibraltar Proposed to be Given Up.--Louville the Agent.--His Departure.--Arrives at Madrid.-- Alarm of Alberoni.--His Audacious Intrigues.--Louville in the Bath.-- His Attempts to See the King.--Defeated.--Driven out of Spain.--Impudence of Alberoni.--Treaty between France and England.--Stipulation with Reference to the Pretender.

CHAPTER LXXXIV

The Lieutenant of Police.--Jealousy of Parliament.--Arrest of Pomereu Resolved On.--His Imprisonment and Sudden Release.--Proposed Destruction of Marly.--How I Prevented It.--Sale of the Furniture.--I Obtain the 'Grandes Entrees'.--Their Importance and Nature.--Afterwards Lavished Indiscriminately.--Adventure of the Diamond called "The Regent."--Bought for the Crown of France.

CHAPTER LXXXV

Death of the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres.--Cavoye and His Wife.--Peter the Great.--His Visit to France.--Enmity to England.--Its Cause.--Kourakin, the Russian Ambassador.--The Czar Studies Rome.--Makes Himself the Head of Religion.--New Desires for Rome--Ultimately Suppressed.--Preparations to Receive the Czar at Paris.--His Arrival at Dunkerque.--At Beaumont.-- Dislikes the Fine Quarters Provided for Him.--His Singular Manners, and Those of His Suite.

CHAPTER LXXXVI

Personal Appearance of the Czar.--His Meals.--Invited by the Regent.-- His Interview with the King--He Returns the Visit.--Excursion in Paris.-- Visits Madame.--Drinks Beer at the Opera.--At the Invalides.--Meudon.-- Issy.--The Tuileries.--Versailles.--Hunt at Fontainebleau.--Saint--Cyr.-- Extraordinary Interview with Madame de Maintenon.--My Meeting with the Czar at D'Antin's.--The Ladies Crowd to See Him.--Interchange of Presents.--A Review.--Party Visits.--Desire of the Czar to Be United to France.

CHAPTER LXXXVII

Courson in Languedoc.--Complaints of Perigueux.--Deputies to Paris.-- Disunion at the Council.--Intrigues of the Duc de Noailles.--Scene.-- I Support the Perigueux People.--Triumph.--My Quarrel with Noailles.-- The Order of the Pavilion.

VOLUME 12.

CHAPTER LXXXVIII

Policy and Schemes of Alberoni.--He is Made a Cardinal.--Other Rewards Bestowed on Him.--Dispute with the Majordomo.--An Irruption into the Royal Apartment.--The Cardinal Thrashed.--Extraordinary Scene.

CHAPTER LXXXIX

Anecdote of the Duc d'Orleans.--He Pretends to Reform --Trick Played upon Me.--His Hoaxes.--His Panegyric of Me.--Madame de Sabran.--How the Regent Treated His Mistresses.

CHAPTER XC

Encroachments of the Parliament.--The Money Edict.--Conflict of Powers-- Vigorous Conduct of the Parliament.--Opposed with Equal Vigour by the Regent.--Anecdote of the Duchesse du Maine.--Further Proceedings of the Parliament.--Influence of the Reading of Memoirs.--Conduct of the Regent.--My Political Attitude.--Conversation with the Regent on the Subject of the Parliament.--Proposal to Hang Law.--Meeting at My House.-- Law Takes Refuge in the Palais Royal.

CHAPTER XCI

Proposed Bed of Justice.--My Scheme.--Interview with the Regent.-- The Necessary Seats for the Assembly.--I Go in Search of Fontanieu.-- My Interview with Hini.--I Return to the Palace.--Preparations.-- Proposals of M. le Duc to Degrade M. du Maine.--My Opposition.--My Joy and Delight.--The Bed of Justice Finally Determined On.--A Charming Messenger.--Final Preparations.--Illness of the Regent.--News Given to M. du Maine.--Resolution of the Parliament.--Military Arrangements.--I Am Summoned to the Council.--My Message to the Comte de Toulouse.