Memoirs of Louis XIV and His Court and of the Regency — Volume 03 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 88 pages of information about Memoirs of Louis XIV and His Court and of the Regency — Volume 03.

Memoirs of Louis XIV and His Court and of the Regency — Volume 03 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 88 pages of information about Memoirs of Louis XIV and His Court and of the Regency — Volume 03.

Upon arriving at Figueras, the bishop diocesan married them anew, with little ceremony, and soon after they sat down to supper, waited upon by the Princesse des Ursins and the ladies of the palace, half the dishes being French, half Spanish.  This mixture displeased the ladies of the palace and several of the Spanish grandees, who plotted with the ladies openly to mark their displeasure; and they did so in a scandalous manner.  Under one pretext or another—­such as the weight or heat of the dishes—­ not one of the French dishes arrived upon the table; all were upset; while the Spanish dishes, on the contrary, were served without any accident.  The affectation and air of chagrin, to say the least of it, of the ladies of the palace, were too visible not to be perceived.  But the King and Queen were wise enough to appear not to notice this; and Madame des Ursins, much astonished, said not a word.

After a long and disagreeable supper, the King and Queen withdrew.  Then feelings which had been kept in during supper overflowed.  The Queen wept for her Piedmontese women.  Like a child, as she was, she thought herself lost in the hands of ladies so insolent; and when it was time to go to bed, she said flatly that she would not go, and that she wished to return home.  Everything was done to console her; but the astonishment and embarrassment were great indeed when it was found that all was of no avail.  The King had undressed, and was awaiting her.  Madame des Ursins was at length obliged to go and tell him the resolution the Queen had taken.  He was piqued and annoyed.  He had until that time lived with the completest regularity; which had contributed to make him find the Princess more to his taste than he might otherwise have done.  He was therefore affected by her ‘fantaisie’, and by the same reason easily persuaded that she would not keep to it beyond the first night.  They did not see each other therefore until the morrow, and after they were dressed.  It was lucky that by the Spanish custom no one was permitted to be present when the newly-married pair went to bed; or this affair, which went no further than the young couple, Madame des Ursins, and one or two domestics, might have made a very unpleasant noise.

Madame des Ursins consulted with two of the courtiers, as to the best measures to be adopted with a child who showed so much force and resolution.  The night was passed in exhortations and in promises upon what had occurred at the supper; and the Queen consented at last to remain Queen.  The Duke of Medina-Sidonia and Count San Estevan were consulted on the morrow.  They were of opinion that in his turn the King, in order to mortify her and reduce her to terms, should not visit the Queen on the following night.  This opinion was acted upon.  The King and Queen did not see each other in private that day.  In the evening the Queen was very sorry.  Her pride and her little vanity were wounded; perhaps also she had found the King to her taste.

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Memoirs of Louis XIV and His Court and of the Regency — Volume 03 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.