Parliament was completely won; the right of representation (or
remonstrance) was promised them; the will of Louis XIV. was as good as
annulled; it was opened, it was read, and so were the two codicils. All
the authority was intrusted to a council of regency of which the Duke of
Orleans was to be the head, but without preponderating voice and without
power to supersede any of the members, all designated in advance by Louis
XIV. The person and the education of the young king, as well as the
command of the household troops, were intrusted to the Duke of Maine.

"It was listened to in dead silence, and with a sort of indignation,
which expressed itself in all countenances," says St. Simon. "The king,
no doubt, did not comprehend the force of what he had been made to do,"
said the Duke of Orleans; "he assured me in the last days of his life
that I should find in his dispositions nothing that I was not sure to be
pleased with, and he himself referred the ministers to me on business,
with all the orders to be given." He asked, therefore, to have his
regency declared such as it ought to be, "full and independent, with free
formation of the council of regency." The Duke of Maine wished to say a
word. "You shall speak in your turn, Sir," said the Duke of Orleans in a
dry tone. The court immediately decided in his favor by acclamation, and
even without proceeding in the regular way to vote. There remained the
codicils, which annulled in fact the Regent's authority. A discussion
began between the Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Maine; it was causing
Philip of Orleans to lose the advantage he had just won; his friends
succeeded in making him perceive this, and he put off the session until
after dinner. When they returned to the Palace of Justice the codicils
were puffed away like the will by the breath of popular favor. The Duke
of Maine, despoiled of the command of the king's household, declared
that, under such conditions, it was impossible for him to be answerable
for the king's person, and that he "demanded to be relieved of that