while those forced night sweats diminished its strength and impoverished it; and thus his death was caused, as was seen by the opening of his body.  The organs were found in such good and healthy condition that there is reason to believe he would have lived beyond his hundredth year.  His stomach above all astonished, and also his bowels by their volume and extent, double that of the ordinary, whence it came that he was such a great yet uniform eater.  Remedies were not thought of until it was no longer time, because Fagon would never believe him ill, or Madame de Maintenon either; though at the same time she had taken good care to provide for her own retreat in the case of his death.  Amidst all this, the King felt his state before they felt it, and said so sometimes to his valets:  Fagon always reassured him, but did nothing.  The King was contented with what was said to him without being persuaded:  but his friendship for Fagon restrained him, and Madame de Maintenon still more.

On Wednesday, the 14th of August, the King was carried to hear mass for the last time; held the Council of State, ate a meat dinner, and had music in Madame de Maintenon’s rooms.  He supped in his chamber, where the Court saw him as at his dinner; was with his family a short time in his cabinet, and went to bed a little after ten.

On Thursday, the Festival of the Assumption, he heard mass in his bed.  The night had been disturbed and bad.  He dined in his bed, the courtiers being present, rose at five and was carried to Madame de Maintenon’s, where music was played.  He supped and went to bed as on the previous evening.  As long as he could sit up he did the same.

On Friday, the 16th of August, the night had been no better; much thirst and drink.  The King ordered no one to enter until ten.  Mass and dinner in his bed as before; then he was carried to Madame de Maintenon’s; he played with the ladies there, and afterwards there was a grand concert.

On Saturday, the 17th of August, the night as the preceding.  He held the Finance Council, he being in bed; saw people at his dinner, rose immediately after; gave audience in his cabinet to the General of the order of Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie; passed to Madame de Maintenon’s, where he worked with the Chancellor.  At night, Fagon slept for the first time in his chamber.

Sunday, the 18th of August, passed like the preceding days, Fagon pretended there had been no fever.  The King held a Council of State before and after his dinner; worked afterwards upon the fortifications with Pelletier; then passed to Madame de Maintenon’s, where there was music.