2i6 anecdote. -^"g- '4* 



Conti, as if he was speaking to M. de Vardes, 

 *' Sir, (said he,^ fhew me, I beg of you, his high- 

 nefs ;" and then turning to the abbe de Conac, 

 " Pray which of these two mafks is his royal 

 highnefs ?" In fliort this courtier made so maay gri- 

 maces, and paid so many fulsome compliments in 

 order to convince the prince of Conti that he was 

 well disguised, that the abbe de Conac quite in a 

 rage, cried out loud enough to be heard by the 

 prince, " Fie, Mr de Roquette, you ought to be a- 

 Ihamed of yourself ; tor when his highnefs drtfbcs 

 himself in masquerade, for his amusement, he 

 knows very well that his Ihape, and that of M. de 

 Vardes, are quite different." This spetch of 

 the abbe de Conac, was noted down by his friend 

 Guilleragues, who communicated it to Mohere. 



Anecdote of the cardinal de Ket%. 

 The cardinal de Retz, told a friend of his that he 

 had caused the war of the Froiide, solely with a 

 view to marry madame de la Meilleraye with 

 whom he was in love ; the old mar chal de la Meil- 

 lerave was still living, though very infirm. It was 

 true that he was coadjutor of Paris, bifhop of Co- 

 rinih. and a priest : but he thought that by over- 

 turning the state, to rendtr himself so considerable, 

 thai (he pope would not dare to refuse him every 

 dispensation. 



