reign
affairs: the direction of the war-office had been my noble friend's
ardent desire.

Whilst we were thus conversing together on the 24th of December, 1770,
eleven o'clock struck; and we could, from the windows, perceive M. de la
Vrilliere taking his way towards that part of the building occupied by
M. de Choiseul when at the castle. This latter was in conversation with
M. Conzie, bishop of Arras, when the arrival of the duc de la Vrilliere,
bearing the king's commands, was signified to him. The prelate, not
doubting but the mission related to affairs of importance, took
his leave; de la Vrilliere then presented the _lettre de cachet_,
accompanying it with some remarks of his own upon the talents of the
minister, and his regret at being selected for so unpleasant an office.
"A truce to your feigned regrets, my lord duke," replied the disgraced
minister, sarcastically, "I am well assured my dismissal could not have
been brought me by hands more ready to discharge the trust than yours."
Saying this, M. de Choiseul placed his credentials in the hands of the
duke, and slightly bowing, turned his back upon him, as though he
had forgotten his presence. M. de Choiseul then retired to summon his
sister, to communicate to her and his wife the misfortune which
had befallen him: he then set out for Paris, to make the necessary
preparations for removing to Chanteloup. There an officer from the king,
charged to accompany him to his place of exile, gave him his majesty's
orders that he should see no person, and receive no visits.

This order did not proceed from me, but was the work of the duc de la
Vrilliere, who sought, by this paltry action, to avenge himself upon M.
de Choiseul for the reception he had given him. It was wholly useless,
however, for in the exile of the duke was seen a thing unheard of,
perhaps, before, and, in all probability, unlikely ever to occur
again--the sight of a whole court espousing the part of an exiled
minister, and openly censuring the monarch who could thus reward his
services. You, no doubt, remember equally well as myself the long file
of carriages that for two days blocked up the road to Chanteloup. In
vain did Louis XV express his dissatisfaction; his court flocked in
crowds to visit M. de Choiseul.

On the other hand, the castle was not in a more tranquil state. At the
news of the dismissal and banishment of M. de Choiseul, a general hue
and cry was raised against me and my friends: one m