in the world,
and that he would shudder at the bare idea of any attempt upon the life
of your majesty; but his relations, friends, and creatures believe,
that, supported by the dauphiness, he would continue in office under
your successor. Who can answer for their honour? Who can assure you,
that some one among them may not do that for the duke which he would
never venture to attempt himself?

"This is the personal danger your majesty runs so long as M. de Choiseul
continues in office; were he dismissed, the world would soon abandon the
disgraced minister, and the dauphiness be amongst the first to forget
him."

The king was pale with agitation, and for some minutes continued
traversing the apartment with hasty strides; then he suddenly stopped.

"You are then convinced, M. 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. de Choiseul of directing affairs--M.
d'Aiguillon, for example."

"Ah!" answered Louis XV; "this is not the moment, when M. d'Aiguillon
is smarting from his severe contest with the long robes, to elevate him
over the head of my hitherto-esteemed minister."

M. de Maupeou and