The Regent openly violated law, and had this miscreant punished.

The prince one day saw President Lambert de Vernon coming to visit him.

"I am come," said the latter, "to denounce to your Royal Highness a man who has five hundred thousand livres in gold." The Duke of Orleans drew back a step.

"Ah, Mr.President," he cried, "what low vocation have you taken to ?" "Monseigneur," rejoined the president, "I am obeying the law; but your Royal Highness may be quite easy; it is myself whom I have come to denounce, in hopes of retaining at least a part of this sum, which I prefer to all the bank-notes." "My money is at the king's service," was the proud remark of Nicolai, premier president of the Exchequer-Chamber, "but it belongs to nobody." The great mass of the nation was of the same opinion as the two presidents; forty-five millions only found their way to the Bank; gold and silver were concealed everywhere.

The crisis was becoming imminent; Law boldly announced that the value of the notes was reduced by a half.