The magistrate was attending mass at St.Andre-des-Arts; he was not ignorant of the chancellor's death, when a valet came in great haste to inform him that the Regent wanted him at the Palais-Royal.

D'Aguesseau piously heard out the remainder of the mass before obeying the prince's orders.

The casket containing the seals was already upon the table.

The Duke of Orleans took the attorney-general by the arm and, going out with him into the gallery thronged with courtiers, said, "Gentlemen, here is your new and most worthy chancellor!" and he took him away with him to the Tuileries, to pay his respects to the little king.
On returning home, still all in a whirl, D'Aguesseau went up to the room of his brother, "M.

de Valjouan, a sort of Epicurean (_voluptueux_) philosopher, with plenty of wit and learning, but altogether one of the oddest creatures." He found him in his dressing-gown, smoking in front of the fire.