June 13, 1684.
Word was sent me from Languedoc that I had a law-suit pending there,
that M. de Grignan was prosecuted with rigor, and that the judges were
strange people. I cursed them heartily, sir, and have since found that
you are one of the principals: it is _you_, therefore, I have loaded
with so many imprecations, you, whose protection I have claimed to
soften the rigor and to attend to the justice of my cause. It is to M.
d’Argouges I am indebted for the information, that this odious judge
and this highly-esteemed M. de Moulceau, are one and the same. All
the anger kindled against the first, has disappeared at the name of
the second, and the weapons have fallen from my hand, like those of
Arcabonne, when she recognized Amadis. It is to M. de Moulceau that
I address this quotation from the opera; you will suppose, that, in
virtue of your title of judge, I shall quote nothing but laws to you.
There is one established law in the world, particularly among honest
men, which is, never to condemn unheard: in this, sir, consists the
favor I have to ask you. The Prince de Conti claims an estate of which
we have been in possession for three hundred years. I know, from M.
de Corbinelli, that three hundred years is a strong title; we request
you, sir, to give us time to collect our proofs, to convince you of the
weakness of the Prince de Conti’s claim and of the solidity of ours.