a part of the hereditary property, but was bought by Monsieur with his own money.  Therefore my jointure produces nothing; all that I have to live on comes from the King and my son.  At the commencement of my widowhood I was left unpaid, and there was an arrear of 300,000 francs due to me, which were not paid until after the death of Louis XIV.  What, then, would have become of me if I had chosen to retire to Montargis?  My household expenses amounted annually to 298,758 livres.

Although Monsieur received considerable wealth with me, I was obliged, after his death, to give up to my son the jewels, movables, pictures—­in short, all that had come from my family; otherwise I should not have had enough to live according to my rank and to keep up my establishment, which is large.  In my opinion, to do this is much better than to wear diamonds.

My income is not more than 456,000 livres; and yet, if it please God, I will not leave a farthing of debt.  My son has just made me more rich by adding 150,000 livres to my pension (1719).  The cause of almost all the evil which prevails here is the passion of women for play.  I have often been told to my face, “You are good for nothing; you do not like play.”

If by my influence I can serve any unfortunate persons with the different branches of the Government, I always do so willingly; in case of success I rejoice; in a less fortunate event I console myself by the belief that it was not the will of God.

After the King’s death I repaired to St. Cyr to pay a visit to Madame de Maintenon.  On my entering the room she said to me, “Madame, what do you come here for?”

I replied, “I come to mingle my tears with those of her whom the King I so much deplore loved most.—­that is yourself, Madame.”

“Yes, indeed,” she said, “he loved me well; but he loved you, also.”

I replied, “He did me the honour to say that, he would always distinguish me by his friendship, although everything was done to make him hate me.”

I wished thus to let her understand that I was, quite aware of her conduct, but that, being a Christian, I could pardon my enemies.  If she possessed any sensibility she must have felt some pain at thus. receiving the forgiveness of one whom she had incessantly persecuted.

The affair of Loube is only a small part of what I have suffered here.

I have now no circle, for ladies a tabouret—­[Ladies having the privilege of seats upon small stools in the presence.]—­seldom come to me, not liking to appear but in full dress.  I begged them to be present as usual at an audience, which I was to give to the ambassador of Malta, but not one of them came.  When the late Monsieur and the King were alive, they were more assiduous; they were not then so much accustomed to full dresses, and when they did not come in sufficient numbers Monsieur threatened to tell the King of it.

But this is enough, as M. Biermann said, after having preached four hours together.