beings, greater, more refined, more perfect.  The day that people, abandoning this respect and veneration which is the support and mainstay of monarchies,—­the day that they regard us as their equals,—­all the prestige of our position will be destroyed.  Bereft of beings superior to the mass, who act as their leaders and supports, the laws will only be as so many black lines on white paper, and your armless chair and my fauteuil will be two pieces of furniture of the selfsame importance.  Personally, I should like to gratify you in every respect, for the same blood flows in our veins, and we have loved each other from the cradle upwards.  Ask of me things that are practicable, and you shall see that I will forestall your wishes.  Personally, I daresay I care less about honorary distinctions than you do, and in Cabinet matters I am always considered to be simpler and more easy to deal with than such and such a one.  One word more, and I have done.  I will nominate you to the governorship of any province you choose, if you will now consent in writing to let proceedings be taken against you, just as against any ordinary gentleman, in case there should be sedition in your province, or any kind of disorder during your administration.”

Hereupon young Philippe began to smile, and he begged the King to embrace him.

CHAPTER XVI.

Arms and Livery of Madame de Montespan.—­Duchess or Princess.—­Fresh Scandal Caused by the Marquis.—­The Rue Saint Honore Affair.—­M. de Ronancour.—­Separation of Body and Estate.

When leaving, despite himself, for the provinces, M. de Montespan wrote me a letter full of bitter insults, in which he ordered me to give up his coat-of-arms, his livery, and even his name.

This letter I showed to the King.  For a while he was lost in thought, as usual on such occasions, and then he said to me: 

“There’s nothing extraordinary about the fellow’s livery.  Put your servants into pale orange with silver lace.  Assume your old crest of Mortemart, and as regards name, I will buy you an estate with a pretty title.”

“But I don’t like pale orange,” I instantly replied; “if I may, I should like to choose dark blue, and gold lace, and as regards crest, I cannot adopt my father’s crest, except in lozenge form, which could not seriously be done.  As it is your gracious intention to give me the name of an estate, give me (for to you everything is easy) a duchy like La Valliere, or, better still, a principality.”

The King smiled, and answered, “It shall be done, madame, as you wish.”

The very, next day I went into Paris to acquaint my, lawyer with my intentions.  Several magnificent estates were just then in the market, but only marquisates, counties, or baronies!  Nothing illustrious, nothing remarkable!  Duhamel assured me that the estate of Chabrillant, belonging to a spendthrift, was up for sale.