Chapter XLV: Letter XXXIV: PARIS, Friday, Jan. 5, 1674

It is a year ago this very day since we supped with the archbishop: at this moment perhaps you are supping with the intendant: I am afraid, my dear child, your mirth is feigned. All you say on this subject to me, and to Corbinelli, is admirable. My heart thanks you for the good opinion you have of me, in believing I hold in abhorrence all villainous proceedings. You are not deceived.

M. de Grignan tells you true; Madame de Thiange has left off paint, and covers her neck; you would hardly know her in this disguise. She is frequently with Madame de Longueville, and is the very pink of modish devotion. But she is still good company, and has not at all the air of a recluse. I dined with her the other day; a servant brought her a glass of liquor; she turned to me and said, “The fellow does not know that I am become a devotee;” this made us all laugh. She spoke very naturally of her intentions, and of her change. She is very cautious of saying any thing that may injure the reputation of her neighbor, and stops short when any thing of that nature escapes her; for my part, I think her more agreeable than ever. Wagers are laid that the Princess d’Harcourt will not turn nun these twelve months, now she is become a lady of the palace, and paints again: this rouge is the law and the prophets; it is the great point that our new devotion turns upon. As for the Duchess d’Aumont, her taste is burying the dead.[92] They say the Duchess de Charost kills people for her, with ill-compounded medicines, and then buries them in a religious retreat. The Marchioness d’Huxelles is very good; but La Marans is more than good. Madame de Schomberg tells me very seriously that she is of the first order for seclusion and penitence, not admitting any society, and refusing even the amusements of devotion; in a word, she is a penitent in the true sense of the word, and in all the simplicity of the primitive church.

[92] If we may believe Bussy, she rendered a service of a
different kind to the living. The Duchess of Charost was the
daughter of the Superintendent Fouquet. She apparently had her
recipe from her grandmother, by whom we have a printed collection
in two volumes, under the title of _Family Recipes by Madame
Fouquet_.

The ladies of the palace are kept in great subjection. The king has explained himself upon this subject, and will have the queen always attended by them. Madame de Richelieu, though she does not serve any longer at table, is always present when the queen dines, with four ladies, who wait by turns. The Countess d’Ayen[93] is the sixth: she does not like the confinement of this attendance, and of being constantly at vespers, sermons, and other religious ceremonies; but there is no perfect happiness in this world. The Marchioness de Castelnau is fair, blooming, and perfectly recovered from her grief. _L’Eclair_, they say, has only changed her apartment at court, not very much to her satisfaction. Madame de Louvigny does not seem sufficiently delighted at her good fortune. She is thought unpardonable for not adoring her husband in the same manner as when she was first married; this is the first time the public was ever offended at a thing of this nature. Madame de Brissac is beautiful, and follows the Princess of Conti like her shadow. La Coëtquen is still the same as ever. She has a petticoat of black velvet, embroidered with gold and silver, and a brocade cloak. This dress cost her an immense sum; and when she thought she made the most splendid figure imaginable, every one said she was dressed like an actress; and she has been so much rallied in consequence, that she has thrown it aside. La Manierosa[94] is a little vexed at not being a lady of the palace. Madame de Duras, who would not accept this honor, laughs at her. La Troche is, as usual, very much interested in your affairs; but I can not express how strongly Madame de la Fayette and M. de la Rochefoucault have your interest at heart.

[93] A feigned name.

[94] Mary Frances de Bournouville, afterward Marchioness de
Noailles.

Madame de la Fayette and I went to see M. de Turenne a few days ago; he has a slight fit of the gout. He received us with great civility, and talked much of you. The Chevalier de Grignan has given him an account of your victories; he would have offered you his sword if there had been any occasion for it. He intends to set out in three days. My son went yesterday very much out of humor: I was not less so, at this ill-judged and in every respect disagreeable journey.

The dauphin saw Madame Schomberg the other day; they told him his grandfather had been in love with her: he asked in a whisper, “How many children has she had by him?” They informed him of the manners[95] of that time.

[95] Madame de Schomberg who is here spoken of, mother of the
marshal then living, captivated Louis XIII. when she was only
a maid of honor, by the name of Mademoiselle d’Hautefort. The
king’s gallantry exacted so little, that she even jested upon the
subject, and said he talked to her of nothing but dogs, horses,
and hunting. She was handsome and discreet. She attached herself
to Queen Anne of Austria, and shared her disgrace during the
life of Louis XIII. She afterward quarreled with her during the
regency, for having spoken too freely against Cardinal Mazarin.

The Duke du Maine[96] has been seen at court, but he has not yet visited the queen: he was in a coach, and saw only his father and mother.

[96] The king’s eldest son by Madame de Montespan.

The Chevalier de Châtillon has no longer any thing to seek for; his fortune is made. Monsieur chose rather to give him the office of captain of his guards, than Mademoiselle de Grancey that of lady of the wardrobe. This young man therefore has the post of Vaillac, and is well provided for: they say Vaillac is to have D’Albon’s, and that D’Albon is discarded. I told you how our States ended, and that they repurchased the edicts at two millions six hundred thousand livres, and gave the same sum as a gratuitous gift, making together five million two hundred thousand livres; that the air was rent with cries of “Long live the king!” that we had bonfires, and sung _Te Deum_, because his majesty was kind enough to accept it. Poor Sanzei is ill with the measles; it is a disorder that soon passes, but is alarming from its violence.

I see no reason to ask the king’s pardon for the humane gentleman who was guilty of assassination; the crime is of too black a nature. The criminals who were pardoned at Rouen were not of this stamp; it is the only crime the king refuses to pardon. So Beavron has mentioned it to the Abbé de Grignan.

I have heard the ladies at the palace spoken of in a way that made me laugh. I said with Montaigne, “Let us avenge ourselves, by slandering them.” It is, however, true that they are under extreme subjection.

The report still prevails, that the prince sets out on Monday. The same day M. de Saint Luc is to espouse Mademoiselle de Pompadour; about this I am quite indifferent.

Adieu, my dear; this letter is growing too long; I conclude it for no other reason but because every thing must have an end. I embrace Grignan, and beg him to forgive me for opening Madame de Guise’s letter; I was very desirous to see her style: my curiosity is satisfied forever.

Guilleragues said yesterday, that Pelisson abused the permission men have to be ugly.[97]

[97] An expression that is become common, but which was new at
that time, or it would not have been worth noticing.