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as it had received from the Duke of Orleans that he would
see what could be done； and in accordance with that
intention a council of state was assembled and the
superintendent of finance was summoned。
This man； named Emery； was the object of popular
detestation； in the first place because he was
superintendent of finance； and every superintendent of
finance deserved to be hated； in the second place； because
he rather deserved the odium which he had incurred。
He was the son of a banker at Lyons named Particelli； who；
after becoming a bankrupt； chose to change his name to
Emery； and Cardinal Richelieu having discovered in him great
financial aptitude； had introduced him with a strong
recommendation to Louis XIII。 under his assumed name； in
order that he might be appointed to the post he subsequently
held。
〃You surprise me！〃 exclaimed the monarch。 〃I am rejoiced to
hear you speak of Monsieur d'Emery as calculated for a post
which requires a man of probity。 I was really afraid that
you were going to force that villain Particelli upon me。〃
〃Sire；〃 replied Richelieu； 〃rest assured that Particelli；
the man to whom your majesty refers； has been hanged。〃
〃Ah； so much the better！〃 exclaimed the king。 〃It is not for
nothing that I am styled Louis the Just。〃 and he signed
Emery's appointment。
This was the same Emery who became eventually superintendent
of finance。
He was sent for by the ministers and he came before them
pale and trembling； declaring that his son had very nearly
been assassinated the day before； near the palace。 The mob
had insulted him on account of the ostentatious luxury of
his wife； whose house was hung with red velvet edged with
gold fringe。 This lady was the daughter of Nicholas de
Camus； who arrived in Paris with twenty francs in his
pocket； became secretary of state； and accumulated wealth
enough to divide nine millions of francs among his children
and to keep an income of forty thousand for himself。
The fact was that Emery's son had run a great chance of
being suffocated； one of the rioters having proposed to
squeeze him until he gave up all the gold he had swallowed。
Nothing； therefore； was settled that day； as Emery's head
was not steady enough for business after such an occurrence。
On the next day Mathieu Mole； the chief president； whose
courage at this crisis； says the Cardinal de Retz； was equal
to that of the Duc de Beaufort and the Prince de Conde in
other words； of the two men who were considered the bravest
in France had been attacked in his turn。 The people
threatened to hold him responsible for the evils that hung
over them。 But the chief president had replied with his
habitual coolness； without betraying either disturbance or
surprise； that should the agitators refuse obedience to the
king's wishes he would have gallows erected in the public
squares and proceed at once to hang the most active among
them。 To which the others had responded that they would be
glad to see the gallows erected； they would serve for the
hanging of those detestable judges who purchased favor at
court at the price of the people's misery。
Nor was this all。 On the eleventh the queen in going to mass
at Notre Dame； as she always did on Saturdays； was followed
by more than two hundred women demanding justice。 These poor
creatures had no bad intentions。 They wished only to be
allowed to fall on their knees before their sovereign； and
that they might move her to compassion； but they were
prevented by the royal guard and the queen proceeded on her
way； haughtily disdainful of their entreaties。
At length parliament was convoked； the authority of the king
was to be maintained。
One day it was the morning of the day my story begins
the king； Louis XIV。； then ten years of age； went in state；
under pretext of returning thanks for his recovery from the
small…pox； to Notre Dame。 He took the opportunity of calling
out his guard； the Swiss troops and the musketeers； and he
had planted them round the Palais Royal； on the quays； and
on the Pont Neuf。 After mass the young monarch drove to the
Parliament House； where； upon the throne； he hastily
confirmed not only such edicts as he had already passed； but
issued new ones； each one； according to Cardinal de Retz；
more ruinous than the others a proceeding which drew
forth a strong remonstrance from the chief president； Mole
whilst President Blancmesnil and Councillor Broussel
raised their voices in indignation against fresh taxes。
The king returned amidst the silence of a vast multitude to
the Palais Royal。 All minds were uneasy； most were
foreboding； many of the people used threatening language。
At first； indeed； they were doubtful whether the king's
visit to the parliament had been in order to lighten or
increase their burdens； but scarcely was it known that the
taxes were to be still further increased； when cries of
〃Down with Mazarin！〃 〃Long live Broussel！〃 〃Long live
Blancmesnil！〃 resounded through the city。 For the people had
learned that Broussel and Blancmesnil had made speeches in
their behalf； and； although the eloquence of these deputies
had been without avail； it had none the less won for them
the people's good…will。 All attempts to disperse the groups
collected in the streets； or silence their exclamations；
were in vain。 Orders had just been given to the royal guards
and the Swiss guards； not only to stand firm； but to send
out patrols to the streets of Saint Denis and Saint Martin；
where the people thronged and where they were the most
vociferous； when the mayor of Paris was announced at the
Palais Royal。
He was shown in directly； he came to say that if these
offensive precautions were not discontinued； in two hours
Paris would be under arms。
Deliberations were being held when a lieutenant in the
guards； named Comminges； made his appearance； with his
clothes all torn； his face streaming with blood。 The queen
on seeing him uttered a cry of surprise and asked him what
was going on。
As the mayor had foreseen； the sight of the guards had
exasperated the mob。 The tocsin was sounded。 Comminges had
arrested one of the ringleaders and had ordered him to be
hanged near the cross of Du Trahoir； but in attempting to
execute this command the soldiery were attacked in the
market…place with stones and halberds； the delinquent had
escaped to the Rue des Lombards and rushed into a house。
They broke open the doors and searched the dwelling； but in
vain。 Comminges； wounded by a stone which had struck him on
the forehead； had left a picket in the street and returned
to the Palais Royal； followed by a menacing crowd； to tell
his story。
This account confirmed that of the mayor。 The authorities
were not in a condition to cope with serious revolt。 Mazarin
endeavored to circulate among the people a report that
troops had only been stationed on the quays and on the Pont
Neuf； on account of the ceremonial of the day； and that they
would soon withdraw。 In fact； about four o'clock they were
all concentrated about the Palais Royal； the courts and
ground floors of which were filled with musketeers and Swiss
guards； and there awaited the outcome of all this
disturbance。
Such was the st