CHAPTER XVII

Chateauneuf, Secretary of State, died about this time.  He had asked that his son, La Vrilliere, might be allowed to succeed him, and was much vexed that the King refused this favour.  The news of Chateauneuf’s death was brought to La Vrilliere by a courier, at five o’clock in the morning.  He did not lose his wits at the news, but at once sent and woke up the Princesse d’Harcourt, and begged her to come and see him instantly.  Opening his purse, he prayed her to go and see Madame de Maintenon as soon as she got up, and propose his marriage with Mademoiselle de Mailly, whom he would take without dowry, if the King gave him his father’s appointments.  The Princesse d’Harcourt, whose habit it was to accept any sum, from a crown upwards, willingly undertook this strange business.  She went upon her errand immediately, and then repaired to Madame de Mailly, who without property, and burdened with a troop of children—­sons and daughters, was in no way averse to the marriage.

The King, upon getting up, was duly made acquainted with La Vrilliere’s proposal, and at once agreed to it.  There was only one person opposed to the marriage, and that was Mademoiselle de Mailly.  She was not quite twelve years of age.  She burst out a-crying, and declared she was very unhappy, that she would not mind marrying a poor man, if necessary, provided he was a gentleman, but that to marry a paltry bourgeois, in order to make his fortune, was odious to her.  She was furious against her mother and against Madame de Maintenon.  She could not be kept quiet or appeased, or hindered from making grimaces at La Vrilliere and all his family, who came to see her and her mother.

They felt it; but the bargain was made, and was too good to be broken.  They thought Mademoiselle de Mailly’s annoyance would pass with her youth—­but they were mistaken.  Mademoiselle de Mailly always was sore at having been made Madame de la Vrilliere, and people often observed it.

At the marriage of Monseigneur the Duc de Bourgogne, the King had offered to augment considerably his monthly income.  The young Prince, who found it sufficient, replied with thanks, and said that if money failed him at any time he would take the liberty, of asking the King for more.  Finding himself short just now, he was as good as his word.  The King praised him highly, and told him to ask whenever he wanted money, not through a third person, but direct, as he had done in this instance.  The King, moreover, told the Duc de Bourgogne to play without fear, for it was of no consequence how much such persons as he might lose.  The King was pleased with confidence, but liked not less to see himself feared; and when timid people who spoke to him discovered themselves, and grew embarrassed in their discourse, nothing better made their court, or advanced their interests.