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 of Chantilly--Trial of Le Blanc--Extraordinary proceedings--Acquittal of the accused. Outside the faction opposed to the Condés, the elevation of _Monsieur le Duc_ was not ill received. With the bulk of the nation Philippe d’Orléans had never been popular. The people had been unable to forget the horrible suspicions concerning him which the successive deaths of the Duc and Duchesse de Bourgogne, the little Duc de Bretagne and the Duc de Berry had aroused, and many worthy persons steadfastly refused to see in the really touching respect and affection which he had always shown for the young King anything but a cloak for the most sinister designs. The middle-classes blamed him for the financial disasters which had involved so many of them in ruin, and credited him, very absurdly, with the intention of recalling Law. The clergy and the devout had been alienated by his debauched life and his contempt for religion. Thus, the very real service which he had rendered France in maintaining peace, with the exception of a brief interval, for eight years, was forgotten, and the advent of his successor hailed with almost a sigh of relief. It is true that there were not a few, such as the advocate Barbier, who regretted the change of rulers, and predicted that it was Madame de Prie who would govern the kingdom, and “lay her hands on as much money as she could”;[264] but, on the whole, the possibility of a term of petticoat government does not appear to have aroused much uneasiness.