Council on the Finances.--Departure of Law--A Strange Dialogue.--M. le Duc and the Regent.--Crimes Imputed to Law during His Absence.--Schemes Proposed.--End, of the Council. CHAPTER CIII Character of Alberoni.--His Grand Projects.--Plots against Him.--The Queen's Nurse.--The Scheme against the Cardinal.--His Fall.--Theft of a Will.--Reception in Italy.--His Adventures There. CHAPTER CIV Meetings of the Council.--A Kitten.--The Archbishopric of Cambrai.-- Scandalous Conduct of Dubois.--The Consecration.--I Persuade the Regent Not to Go.--He Promises Not.--Breaks His Word.--Madame de Parabere.--The Ceremony.--Story of the Comte de Horn. VOLUME 14 CHAPTER CV Quarrel of the King of England with His Son.--Schemes of Dubois.-- Marriage of Brissac.--His Death.--Birth of the Young Pretender.-- Cardinalate of Dubois.--Illness of the King.--His Convalescence.-- A Wonderful Lesson.--Prudence of the Regent.--Insinuations against Him. CHAPTER CVI Projected Marriages of the King and of the Daughter of the Duc d'Orleans_ --How It Was Communicated to Me.--I Ask for the Embassy to Spain.--It Is Granted to Me.--Jealousy of Dubois.--His Petty Interference.-- Announcement of the Marriages. CHAPTER CVII Interview with Dubois.--His Singular Instructions to Ale.--His Insidious Object.--Various Tricks and Manoeuvres.--My Departure for Spain.--Journey by Way of Bordeaux and Bayonne.--Reception in Spain.--Arrival at Madrid. CHAPTER CVIII Interview in the Hall of Mirrors.--Preliminaries of the Marriages.-- Grimaldo.--How the Question of Precedence Was Settled.--I Ask for an Audience.--Splendid Illuminations.--A Ball.--I Am Forced to Dance. CHAPTER CIX Mademoiselle de Montpensier Sets out for Spain.--I Carry the News to the King.--Set out for Lerma.--Stay at the Escurial.--Take the Small--pox.-- Convalescence. CHAPTER CX Mode of Life of Their Catholic Majesties.--Their Night.--Morning.-- Toilette.--Character of Philippe V.--And of His Queen.--How She Governed Him. CHAPTER CXI The King's Taste for Hunting.--Preparations for a Battue.--Dull Work.-- My Plans to Obtain the Grandesse.--Treachery of Dubois.--Friendship of Grimaldo.--My Success. CHAPTER CXII Marriage of the Prince of the Asturias.--An Ignorant Cardinal.--I Am Made Grandee of Spain.--The Vidame de Chartres Named Chevalier of the Golden Fleece.--His Reception--My Adieux.--A Belching Princess.-- Return to France. VOLUME 15. CHAPTER CXIII Attempted Reconciliation between Dubois and Villeroy.--Violent Scene.-- Trap Laid for the Marechal.--Its Success.--His Arrest. CHAPTER CXIV I Am Sent for by Cardinal Dubois.--Flight of Frejus.--He Is Sought and Found.--Behaviour of Villeroy in His Exile at Lyons.--His Rage and Reproaches against Frejus.--Rise of the Latter in the King's Confidence. CHAPTER CXV