135;
untoward misunderstandings arise through her extravagances, 136;
the passion for politics and power obtains mastery over her
mind, 137;
the Orsini in some sort a sacerdotal family, 137;
dogmatic questions prove a stumbling block to conjugal harmony, 138;
forms a close intimacy with the Marechale de Noailles, 138;
her varied resources appreciated by the minister Torcy, 138;
presented to Madame de Maintenon on visiting Versailles, 138;
reconciled to her husband, the Duke, on his death-bed, 139;
is highly esteemed by the cabinet of Versailles, 140;
wins over Innocent XI. to favour the pretensions of the Duke
d'Anjou, 141;
she aspires to govern Spain, 142;
manoeuvres to secure the post of _camerara-mayor_, 142;
the art and caution with which she negotiates with the Marechale de
Noailles, 143;
the astute programme traced by her for de Torcy, 145;
naive expression of delight at her success, 146;
sets forth regally equipped to conduct the Princess of Savoy to her
husband, 148;
enters upon her militant career at an advanced age, 148;
entirely possessed by her painstaking ambition, 149;
enters upon her new mission with zeal, ardour, and activity, more
than virile, 149;
truly devoted to Spain, without failing in her devotion to
France, 152;
wages a determined war against the Inquisition, 152;
seeks to establish her power by masking it, 152;
first meets Maria Louise, of Savoy, at Villefranche, 153;
makes herself acceptable to the young Queen, 153;
her wrath and stupefaction at the French dishes being upset, 159;
installed definitively as _camerara-mayor_ at Madrid, 160;
onerous and incongruous duties of the post, 162;
her policy of keeping to herself sole access to the King and
Queen, 163;
sacrifices her dignity to her power and influence, 163;
by familiarising the Queen with politics, she penetrates every state
secret, 164;
renders the Queen popular among the people of central Spain, 164;
her wise policy for the regeneration of Spain, 165;
reduces both the ultra-French and purely Spanish political systems
to impotence, 169;
fathoms the intrigues and baffles the manoeuvres of Melgar, 170;
Louville succumbs to her, 171;
Porto-Carrero tenders his resignation, 172;
Cardinal d'Estrees her tool without knowing it, 173;