Now the King’s doctors are entirely under the authority of the majordomo-major.  He ought to be present at all their consultations; the King should take no remedy that he is not told of, or that he does not approve, or that he does not see taken; an account of all the medicines should be rendered to him.  Just at this time the King was ill.  Villena wished to discharge the duties attached to his post of majordomo-major.  Alberoni caused it to be insinuated to him, that the King wished to be at liberty, and that he would be better liked if he kept at home; or had the discretion and civility not to enter the royal chamber, but to ask at the door for news.  This was language the Marquis would not understand.

At the end of the grand cabinet of the mirrors was placed a bed, in which the King was laid, in front of the door; and as the room is vast and long, it is a good distance from the door (which leads to the interior) to the place where the bed was.  Alberoni again caused the Marquis to be informed that his attentions were troublesome, but the Marquis did not fail to enter as before.  At last, in concert with the Queen, the Cardinal resolved to refuse him admission.  The Marquis, presenting himself one afternoon, a valet partly opened the door and said, with much confusion, that he was forbidden to let him enter.

“Insolent fellow,” replied the Marquis, “stand aside,” and he pushed the door against the valet and entered.  In front of him was the Queen, seated at the King’s pillow; the Cardinal standing by her side, and the privileged few, and not all of them, far away from the bed.  The Marquis, who, though full of pride, was but weak upon his legs, leisurely advanced, supported upon his little stick.  The Queen and the Cardinal saw him and looked at each other.  The King was too ill to notice anything, and his curtains were closed except at the side where the Queen was.  Seeing the Marquis approach, the Cardinal made signs, with impatience, to one of the valets to tell him to go away, and immediately after, observing that the Marquis, without replying, still advanced, he went to him, explained to him that the King wished to be alone, and begged him to leave.

“That is not true,” said the Marquis; “I have watched you; you have not approached the bed, and the King has said nothing to you.”

The Cardinal insisting, and without success, took him by the arm to make him go.  The Marquis said he was very insolent to wish to hinder him from seeing the King, and perform his duties.  The Cardinal, stronger than his adversary, turned the Marquis round, hurried him towards the door, both talking the while, the Cardinal with measure, the Marquis in no way mincing his words.  Tired of being hauled out in this manner, the Marquis struggled, called Alberoni a “little scoundrel,” to whom he would teach manners; and in this heat and dust the Marquis, who was weak, fortunately fell into an armchair hard by.  Angry at his fall, he raised his little stick and let it fall with all his force upon the ears and the shoulders of the Cardinal, calling him a little scoundrel—­a little rascal—­ a little blackguard, deserving a horsewhipping.