CHAPTER XLVII

The death of D’Avaux, who had formerly been our ambassador in Holland, occurred in the early part of this year (1709).  D’Avaux was one of the first to hear of the project of William of Orange upon England, when that project was still only in embryo, and kept profoundly secret.  He apprised the King (Louis XIV.) of it, but was laughed at.  Barillon, then our ambassador in England, was listened to in preference.  He, deceived by Sunderland and the other perfidious ministers of James II.; assured our Court that D’Avaux’s reports were mere chimeras.  It was not until it was impossible any longer to doubt that credit was given to them.  The steps that we then took, instead of disconcerting all the measures of the conspirators, as we could have done, did not interfere with the working out of any one of their plans.  All liberty was left, in fact, to William to carry out his scheme.  The anecdote which explains how this happened is so curious, that it deserves to be mentioned here.

Louvois, who was then Minister of War, was also superintendent of the buildings.  The King, who liked building, and who had cast off all his mistresses, had pulled down the little porcelain Trianon he had made for Madame de Montespan, and was rebuilding it in the form it still retains.  One day he perceived, for his glance was most searching, that one window was a trifle narrower than the others.  He showed it to Louvois, in order that it might be altered, which, as it was not then finished, was easy to do.  Louvois sustained that the window was all right.  The King insisted then, and on the morrow also, but Louvois, pigheaded and inflated with his authority, would not yield.

The next day the King saw Le Notre in the gallery.  Although his trade was gardens rather than houses, the King did not fail to consult him upon the latter.  He asked him if he had been to Trianon.  Le Notre replied that he had not.  The King ordered him to go.  On the morrow he saw Le Notre again; same question, same answer.  The King comprehended the reason of this, and a little annoyed, commanded him to be there that afternoon at a given time.  Le Notre did not dare to disobey this time.  The King arrived, and Louvois being present, they returned to the subject of the window, which Louvois obstinately said was as broad as the rest.  The King wished Le Notre to measure it, for he knew that, upright and true, he would openly say what he found.  Louvois, piqued, grew angry.  The King, who was not less so, allowed him to say his say.  Le Notre, meanwhile, did not stir.  At last, the King made him go, Louvois still grumbling, and maintaining his assertion with audacity and little measure.  Le Notre measured the window, and said that the King was right by several inches.  Louvois still wished to argue, but the King silenced him, and commanded him to see that the window was altered at once, contrary to custom abusing him most harshly.