"I confess that I am not sorry for these departures," wrote Marie Antoinette to her mother, after the fall of M.Turgot, "but I have had nothing to do with them." "Sir," M.Turgot had written to Louis XVI., "monarchs governed by courtiers have but to choose between the fate of Charles I.and that of Charles XI." The coolness went on increasing between the king and his minister.

On the 12th of May, 1776, the comptroller-general entered the king's closet; he had come to speak to him about a new project for an edict; the exposition of reasons was, as usual, a choice morsel of political philosophy.

"Another commentary!" said the king with temper.

He listened, however.

When the comptroller-general had finished, "Is that all ?" asked the king.