The King went to mass, where his musicians always sang an anthem.  He did not go below—­except on grand fetes or at ceremonies.  Whilst he was going to and returning from mass, everybody spoke to him who wished, after apprising the captain of the guard, if they were not distinguished; and he came and went by the door of the cabinet into the gallery.  During the mass the ministers assembled in the King’s chamber, where distinguished people could go and speak or chat with them.  The King amused himself a little upon returning from mass and asked almost immediately for the council.  Then the morning was finished.

On Sunday, and often on Monday, there was a council of state; on Tuesday a finance council; on Wednesday council of state; on Saturday finance council:  rarely were two held in one day or any on Thursday or Friday.  Once or twice a month there was a council of despatches on Monday morning; but the order that the Secretaries of State took every morning between the King’s rising and his mass, much abridged this kind of business.  All the ministers were seated accordingly to rank, except at the council of despatches, where all stood except the sons of France, the Chancellor, and the Duc de Beauvilliers.

Thursday morning was almost always blank.  It was the day for audiences that the King wished to give—­often unknown to any—­back-stair audiences.  It was also the grand day taken advantage of by the bastards, the valets, etc., because the King had nothing to do.  On Friday after the mass the King was with his confessor, and the length of their audiences was limited by nothing, and might last until dinner.  At Fontainebleau on the mornings when there was no council, the King usually passed from mass to Madame de Maintenon’s, and so at Trianon and Marly.  It was the time for their tete-a-tete without interruption.  Often on the days when there was no council the dinner hour was advanced, more or less for the chase or the promenade.  The ordinary hour was one o’clock; if the council still lasted, then the dinner waited and nothing was said to the King.

The dinner was always ‘au petit couvert’, that is, the King ate by himself in his chamber upon a square table in front of the middle window.  It was more or less abundant, for he ordered in the morning whether it was to be “a little,” or “very little” service.  But even at this last, there were always many dishes, and three courses without counting the fruit.  The dinner being ready, the principal courtiers entered; then all who were known; and the gentleman of the chamber on duty informed the King.