de Maupeou," cried he, "that the duke
is leagued with the parliaments to weaken my authority?"
"There are palpable proofs to that effect," replied the chancellor;
"your majesty may recollect the skilful manner in which, on the
3d of last September, he avoided attending you to parliament;
most assuredly, had he not been the friend of rebels, he would
not have shrunk from evincing by his presence how fully he shared
your just indignation."
"That is but too true," cried Louis XV; "and I felt much annoyed
at the time, that he preferred going to amuse himself at the house
of M. de Laborde, when his duty summoned him to my side."
"Your majesty cannot fail to perceive how everything condemns
him; his personal conduct, equally with that of his sister, proves
how little he regards his royal master's interest; and should your
clemency resolve upon sparing him now, you may find your mercy
produce fatal effects to yourself."
"His dismissal," resumed the king, "would disorganize all my
political measures. Who could I put in his place? I know no
one capable of filling it."
"Your majesty's wisdom must decide the point," replied the
chancellor. "My duty is to lay before you the true state of
things; this I have done, and I know myself well enough not to
intrude my counsel further. Nevertheless, I cannot help remarking,
that in your majesty's court there are many as capable as M.
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