Mademoiselle found her father bristling with fury; his staring eyes transfixed her. At sight of her he cried angrily that he had no account to render to her; then, to quote Mademoiselle's words, "Each told the other his truths." Monsieur reminded her that she had "put herself forward with unseemly boldness," and that she had compromised the name of d'Orléans by her anxiety to "play the heroine." She answered as she thought it just and in accordance with the rights of her quality to answer. She demonstrated to her father that there were "characters" upon earth who refused to give written orders because they feared to be confronted by their signatures when personal safety required a denial of the truth. She explained the principle of physical timidity and incidentally rehearsed all the grievances of her life. Gaston answered her. The quarrel ended, Mademoiselle piteously begged her father to let her live under his protection. She recorded his answer word for word, with all the incidents of the interview:
He answered me: "I have no vacant lodging." I said that there was no one in that house who was not indebted to me, and that I thought that no one had a better right to live there than I had. He answered me tartly: "All who live under my roof are necessary to me, and they will not be dislodged." I said to him: "As your Royal Highness will not let me live with you, I shall go to the Hôtel Condé, which is vacant; no one is living there at present." He answered: "That I will not permit!" I asked: "Where, then, do you wish me to go, sir?" He answered: "Where you please!" and he turned away.
The day after that interview, at a word from the King, all the Frondeurs left Paris. The highways were crowded with great lords in penance and with heroines "retired." Poor broken idols! the people of Paris were still chanting their glory! Monsieur departed, bag and baggage, at break of day,
Avec une extreme vitesse.
* * * * *
Mademoiselle son ainée
Disparut la même journée.[163]
The daughter of the victim of degeneracy had developed her father's weakness. Although Mademoiselle was in safety, she trembled. She who had challenged death in the last combat of the Fronde, laughing merrily as she trained the guns on the King of France, thrilled with terror when letter followed letter warning her to leave Paris, and giving her the names of people destined for the Bastille. All the letters, were anonymous, and all were in different and unknown hands.