While the King supped thus tranquilly, all those who were in the sick-chamber began to lose their wits.  Fagon and the others poured down physic on physic, without leaving time for any to work.  The Cure, who was accustomed to go and learn the news every evening, found, against all custom, the doors thrown wide open, and the valets in confusion.  He entered the chamber, and perceiving what was the matter, ran to the bedside, took the hand of Monseigneur, spoke to him of God, and seeing him full of consciousness, but scarcely able to speak, drew from him a sort of confession, of which nobody had hitherto thought, and suggested some acts of contrition.  The poor Prince repeated distinctly several words suggested to him, and confusedly answered others, struck his breast, squeezed the Cure’s hand, appeared penetrated with the best sentiments, and received with a contrite and willing air the absolution of the Cure.

As the King rose from the supper-table, he well-nigh fell backward when Fagon, coming forward, cried in great trouble that all was lost.  It may be imagined what terror seized all the company at this abrupt passage from perfect security to hopeless despair.  The King, scarcely master of himself, at once began to go towards the apartment of Monseigneur, and repelled very stiffly the indiscreet eagerness of some courtiers who wished to prevent him, saying that he would see his son again, and be quite certain that nothing could be done.  As he was about to enter the chamber, Madame la Princesse de Conti presented herself before him, and prevented him from going in.  She pushed him back with her hands, and said that henceforth he had only to think of himself.  Then the King, nearly fainting from a shock so complete and so sudden, fell upon a sofa that stood near.  He asked unceasingly for news of all who passed, but scarce anybody dared to reply to him.  He had sent for here Tellier, who went into Monseigneur’s room; but it was no longer time.  It is true the Jesuit, perhaps to console the King, said that he gave him a well-founded absolution.  Madame de Maintenon hastened after the King, and sitting down beside him on the same sofa, tried to cry.  She endeavoured to lead away the King into the carriage already waiting for him in the courtyard, but he would not go, and sat thus outside the door until Monseigneur had expired.

The agony, without consciousness, of Monseigneur lasted more than an hour after the King had come into the cabinet.  Madame la Duchesse and Madame la Princesse de Conti divided their cares between the dying man and the King, to whom they constantly came back; whilst the faculty confounded, the valets bewildered, the courtiers hurrying and murmuring, hustled against each other, and moved unceasingly to and fro, backwards and forwards, in the same narrow space.  At last the fatal moment arrived.  Fagon came out, and allowed so much to be understood.