Brissac, a few years before his retirement, served the Court ladies a nice turn.  All through the winter they attended evening prayers on Thursdays and Sundays, because the King went there; and, under the pretence of reading their prayer-books, had little tapers before them, which cast a light on their faces, and enabled the King to recognise them as he passed.  On the evenings when they knew he would not go, scarcely one of them went.  One evening, when the King was expected, all the ladies had arrived, and were in their places, and the guards were at their doors.  Suddenly, Brissac appeared in the King’s place, lifted his baton, and cried aloud, “Guards of the King, withdraw, return to your quarters; the King is not coming this evening.”  The guards withdrew; but after they had proceeded a short distance, were stopped by brigadiers posted for the purpose, and told to return in a few minutes.  What Brissac had said was a joke.  The ladies at once began to murmur one to another.  In a moment or two all the candles were put out, and the ladies, with but few exceptions, left the chapel.  Soon after the King arrived, and, much astonished to see so few ladies present, asked how it was that nobody was there.  At the conclusion of the prayers Brissac related what he had done, not without dwelling on the piety of the Court ladies.  The King and all who accompanied him laughed heartily.  The story soon spread, and these ladies would have strangled Brissac if they had been able.

The Duchesse de Bourgogne being in the family way this spring, was much inconvenienced.  The King wished to go to Fontainebleau at the commencement of the fine season, contrary to his usual custom; and had declared this wish.  In the mean time he desired to pay visits to Marly.  Madame de Bourgogne much amused him; he could not do without her, yet so much movement was not suitable to her state.  Madame de Maintenon was uneasy, and Fagon gently intimated his opinion.  This annoyed the King, accustomed to restrain himself for nothing, and spoiled by having seen his mistresses travel when big with child, or when just recovering from their confinement, and always in full dress.  The hints against going to Marly bothered him, but did not make him give them up.  All he would consent to was, that the journey should put off from the day after Quasimodo to the Wednesday of the following week; but nothing could make him delay his amusement, beyond that time, or induce him to allow the Princess to remain at Versailles.

[Illustration:  The King’s Walk At Versailles—­Painted by J. L. Jerome—­484]