He deliberated a long while whether he should go out, and several times said to the queen, 'My dear, shall I go or not ?' He even went out two or three times, and then all on a sudden returned, and said to the queen, 'My dear, shall I really go ?' and again he had doubts about going or remaining.

At last he made up his mind to go, and, having kissed the queen several times, bade her adieu.

Amongst other things that were remarked he said to her, 'I shall only go there and back; I shall be here again almost directly.' When he got to the bottom of the steps, where his carriage was waiting for him, M.de Praslin, his captain of the guard, would have attended him, but said to him, 'Get you gone; I want nobody; go about your business.' "Thus having about him only a few gentlemen and some footmen, he got into his carriage, took his place on the back seat at the left hand side, and made M.d'Epernon sit at the right.

Next to him, by the door, were M.de Montbazon and M.de la Force; and by the door on M.d'Epernon's side were Marshal de Lavardin and M.de Crsqui; on the front seat the Marquis of Mirabeau and the first equerry.

When he came to the Croix-du-Tiroir he was asked whither it was his pleasure to go; he gave orders to go towards St.Innocent.