Henri IV. had been one day told of the infidelity of one of his mistresses.  Believing that the King had no intention of visiting her, she made an assignation with the Duc de Bellegarde in her own apartment.  The King, having caused the time of his rival’s coming to be watched, when he was informed of his being there, went to his mistress’s room.  He found her in bed, and she complained of a violent headache.  The King said he was very hungry, and wanted some supper; she replied that she had not thought about supper, and believed she had only a couple of partridges.  Henri IV. desired they should be served up, and said he would eat them with her.  The supper which she had prepared for Bellegarde, and which consisted of much more than two partridges, was then served up; the King, taking up a small loaf, split it open, and, sticking a whole partridge into it, threw it under the bed.  “Sire,” cried the lady, terrified to death, “what are you doing?”—­“Madame,” replied the merry monarch, “everybody must live.”  He then took his departure, content with having frightened the lovers.

I have again seen M. La Mothe le Vayer; who, with all his sense, dresses himself like a madman.  He wears furred boots, and a cap which he never takes off, lined with the same material, a large band, and a black velvet coat.

We have had few Queens in France who have been really happy.  Marie de Medicis died in exile.  The mother of the King and of the late Monsieur was unhappy as long as her husband was alive.  Our Queen Marie-Therese said upon her death-bed, “that from the time of her becoming Queen she had not had a day of real happiness.”

Lauzun sometimes affects the simpleton that he may say disagreeable things with impunity, for he is very malicious.  In order to hint to Marechal de Tesse that he did wrong in being so familiar with the common people, he called out to him one night in the Salon at Marly, “Marshal, pray give me a pinch of snuff; but let it be good—­that, for example, which I saw you taking this morning with Daigremont the chairman.”

In the time of Henri IV. an Elector-Palatine came to France; the King’s household was sent to meet him.  All his expenses were paid, as well as those of his suite; and when he arrived at the Court he entered between the Dauphin and Monsieur and dined with the King.  I learned these particulars from the late Monsieur.  The King, under the pretence of going to the chase, went about a league from Paris, and, meeting the Elector, conducted him in his carriage.  At Paris he was always attended by the King’s servants.  This treatment is somewhat different from that which, in my time, was bestowed upon Maximilian Maria, the Elector of Bavaria.  This Elector often enraged me with the foolish things that he did.  For example, he went to play and to dine with M. d’Antin, and never evinced the least desire to dine with his own nephews.  A sovereign, whether he be Elector