One day, when there was a grand fete at Fontainebleau, Madame la Marechale de Villeroy persuaded her, out of malice, to sit down and play, instead of going to evening prayers.  She resisted some time, saying that Madame de Maintenon was going; but the Marechale laughed at her for believing that her patron could see who was and who was not at the chapel:  so down they sat to play.  When the prayers were over, Madame de Maintenon, by the merest accident—­for she scarcely ever visited any one —­went to the apartments of the Marechale de Villeroy.  The door was flung back, and she was announced.  This was a thunderbolt for the Princesse d’Harcourt.  “I am ruined,” cried she, unable to restrain herself; “she will see me playing, and I ought to have been at chapel!” Down fell the cards from her hands, and down fell she all abroad in her chair.  The Marechale laughed most heartily at so complete an adventure.  Madame de Maintenon entered slowly, and found the Princess in this state, with five or six persons.  The Marechale de Villeroy, who was full of wit, began to say that, whilst doing her a great honour, Madame was the cause of great disorder; and showed her the Princesse d’Harcourt in her state of discomfiture.  Madame de Maintenon smiled with majestic kindness, and addressing the Princesse d’Harcourt, “Is this the way,” said she; “that you go to prayers?” Thereupon the Princess flew out of her half-faint into a sort of fury; said that this was the kind of trick that was played off upon her; that no doubt the Marechale knew that Madame de Maintenon was coming, and for that reason had persecuted her to play.  “Persecuted!” exclaimed the Marechale, “I thought I could not receive you better than by proposing a game; it is true you were for a moment troubled at missing the chapel, but your tastes carried the day.  —­This, Madame, is my whole crime,” continued she, addressing Madame de Maintenon.  Upon this, everybody laughed louder than before:  Madame de Maintenon, in order to stop the quarrel; commanded them both to continue their game; and they continued accordingly, the Princesse d’Harcourt, still grumbling, quite beside herself, blinded with fury, so as to commit fresh mistakes every minute.  So ridiculous an adventure diverted the Court for several days; for this beautiful Princess was equally feared, hated, and despised.

Monseigneur le Duc and Madame la Duchesse de Bourgogne continually played off pranks upon her.  They put, one day, crackers all along the avenue of the chateau at Marly, that led to the Perspective where she lodged.  She was horribly afraid of everything.  The Duke and Duchess bribed two porters to be ready to take her into the mischief.  When she was right in the middle of the avenue the crackers began to go off; and she to cry aloud for mercy; the chairman set her down and ran for it.  There she was, then, struggling in her chair, furiously enough to upset it, and yelling like a demon.  At this