Clement XI.

had promised, but he could not make up his mind to bring down so low the dignity of the Sacred College; he died without having conferred the hat upon Dubois.

During the conclave intrigues recommenced, conducted this time by Cardinal Rohan.
The Jesuit Lafitteau, who had become Bishop of Sisteron, and had for a long while been the secret agent of Dubois at Rome, kept him acquainted with all the steps taken to wrest a promise from Cardinal Conti, who was destined, it was believed, to unite the majority of the suffrages.

"Do not be surprised," he adds, "to hear me say that I go by night to the conclave, for I have found out the secret of getting the key of it, and I constantly pass through five or six guard-posts, without their being able to guess who I am." Cardinal Conti was old and feeble; all means were brought to bear upon him.

Dubois had for a long time past engaged the services of Chevalier St.George; when the new pope was proclaimed, under the name of Innocent XIII., he had signed a conditional promise in favor of Dubois.