Beginning of the Ministry of _Monsieur le Duc_--His early popularity--Difficulties of the situation--Philippe d’Orléans replaced by three new powers: Louis XV., Fleury, and Philip V. of Spain--Futile negotiations between _Monsieur le Duc_ and the Orléans faction--Madame de Prie advises the prince to take the offensive--Resumption of the proceedings against La Jonchère and his accomplices--Indignation and alarm of the Orléanists--Attempted assassination of La Guillonière, in mistake for Pâris-Duverney---Conspiracy against the lives of _Monsieur le Duc_ and his mistress--Madame de Prie insists on prompt and energetic action, and Le Blanc and the Belle-Isles are thrown into the Bastille--Arrest of Lempereur and other persons--The Government is determined on the total ruin of Le Blanc--Murder of Gazan de la Combe--La Blanc claims the privilege of being tried by the assembled chambers of the Parlement--Efforts of _Monsieur le Duc_ and Madame de Prie to counteract the influence of Fleury over Louis XV.--Recall of Villeroy--Visit of the King to Chantilly--Trial of Le Blanc--Extraordinary proceedings--Acquittal of the accused 314–331 CHAPTER XXIII _Monsieur le Duc_ and Madame de Prie determine to break off the marriage of Louis XV. and the Infanta, and to marry the young King to a princess capable of at once giving him an heir--Double interest of the favourite in the accomplishment of this design--Question of the remarriage of _Monsieur le Duc_--Madame de Prie, unable to oppose this, selects Marie Leczinska--Rupture of the Spanish marriage--Exasperation of the Court of Madrid--Difficulty of finding a suitable consort for Louis XV.--Madame de Prie accused of having barred the way of Mlle. de Vermandois to the crown matrimonial--The favourite advocates the claims of Marie Leczinska, who is eventually chosen--Triumph of Madame de Prie--Arrival of the new Queen--A model husband--Growing unpopularity of the Government and increasing influence of Fleury--An unsuccessful intrigue--Madame de Prie retires from Court, but _Monsieur le Duc_ insists on her return--Disgrace of _Monsieur le Duc_--His mother and his mistress follow him to Chantilly--Madame de Prie is exiled to Normandy--A touching farewell--Chivalrous behaviour of the prince--Death of Madame de Prie--Remarriage of _Monsieur le Duc_--His death 332–350 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AGNÈS BERTHELOT DE PLÉNEUF, MARQUISE DE PRIE _Frontispiece_ From a Painting by an unknown artist, in the collection of M. de Quatrebarbes _By permission of MM. Plon Nourrit_ FACING PAGE