CHAPTER XXXIX

I went this summer to Forges, to try, by means of the waters there, to get rid of a tertian fever that quinquina only suspended.  While there I heard of a new enterprise on the part of the Princes of the blood, who, in the discredit in which the King held them, profited without measure by his desire for the grandeur of the illegitimate children, to acquire new advantages which were suffered because the others shared them.  This was the case in question.

After the elevation of the mass—­at the King’s communion—­a folding-chair was pushed to the foot of the altar, was covered with a piece of stuff, and then with a large cloth, which hung down before and behind.  At the Pater the chaplain rose and whispered in the King’s ear the names of all the Dukes who were in the chapel.  The King named two, always the oldest, to each of whom the chaplain advanced and made a reverence.  During the communion of the priest the King rose, and went and knelt down on the bare floor behind this folding seat, and took hold of the cloth; at the same time the two Dukes, the elder on the right, the other on the left, each took hold of a corner of the cloth; the two chaplains took hold of the other two corners of the same cloth, on the side of the altar, all four kneeling, and the captain of the guards also kneeling and behind the King.  The communion received and the oblation taken some moments afterwards, the King remained a little while in the same place, then returned to his own, followed by the two Dukes and the captain of the guards, who took theirs.  If a son of France happened to be there alone, he alone held the right corner of the cloth, and nobody the other; and when M. le Duc d’Orleans was there, and no son of France was present, M. le Duc d’Orleans held the cloth in like manner.  If a Prince of the blood were alone present, however, he held the cloth, but a Duke was called forward to assist him.  He was not privileged to act without the Duke.

The Princes of the blood wanted to change this; they were envious of the distinction accorded to M. d’Orleans, and wished to put themselves on the same footing.  Accordingly, at the Assumption of this year, they managed so well that M. le Duc served alone at the altar at the King’s communion, no Duke being called upon to come and join him.  The surprise at this was very great.  The Duc de la Force and the Marechal de Boufflers, who ought to have served, were both present.  I wrote to this last to say that such a thing had never happened before, and that it was contrary to all precedent.  I wrote, too, to M. d’Orleans, who was then in Spain, informing him of the circumstance.  When he returned he complained to the King.  But the King merely said that the Dukes ought to have presented themselves and taken hold of the cloth.  But how could they have done so, without being requested, as was customary, to come forward?  What would the king have thought of them if they had?  To conclude, nothing could be made of the matter, and it remained thus.  Never then, since that time, did I go to the communions of the King.