(the most distinguished), it was a demerit not to make the Court their ordinary abode; with others ’twas a fault to come but rarely; for those who never or scarcely ever came it was certain disgrace.  When their names were in any way mentioned, “I do not know them,” the King would reply haughtily.  Those who presented themselves but seldom were thus Characterise:  “They are people I never see;” these decrees were irrevocable.  He could not bear people who liked Paris.

Louis XIV. took great pains to be well informed of all that passed everywhere; in the public places, in the private houses, in society and familiar intercourse.  His spies and tell-tales were infinite.  He had them of all species; many who were ignorant that their information reached him; others who knew it; others who wrote to him direct, sending their letters through channels he indicated; and all these letters were seen by him alone, and always before everything else; others who sometimes spoke to him secretly in his cabinet, entering by the back stairs.  These unknown means ruined an infinite number of people of all classes, who never could discover the cause; often ruined them very unjustly; for the King, once prejudiced, never altered his opinion, or so rarely, that nothing was more rare.  He had, too, another fault, very dangerous for others and often for himself, since it deprived him of good subjects.  He had an excellent memory; in this way, that if he saw a man who, twenty years before, perhaps, had in some manner offended him, he did not forget the man, though he might forget the offence.  This was enough, however, to exclude the person from all favour.  The representations of a minister, of a general, of his confessor even, could not move the King.  He would not yield.

The most cruel means by which the King was informed of what was passing—­ for many years before anybody knew it—­was that of opening letters.  The promptitude and dexterity with which they were opened passes understanding.  He saw extracts from all the letters in which there were passages that the chiefs of the post-office, and then the minister who governed it, thought ought to go before him; entire letters, too, were sent to him, when their contents seemed to justify the sending.  Thus the chiefs of the post, nay, the principal clerks were in a position to suppose what they pleased and against whom they pleased.  A word of contempt against the King or the government, a joke, a detached phrase, was enough.  It is incredible how many people, justly or unjustly, were more or less ruined, always without resource, without trial, and without knowing why.  The secret was impenetrable; for nothing ever cost the King less than profound silence and dissimulation.

This last talent he pushed almost to falsehood, but never to deceit, pluming himself upon keeping his word,—­therefore he scarcely ever gave it.  The secrets of others he kept as religiously as his own.  He was even flattered by certain confessions and certain confidences; and there was no mistress, minister, or favourite, who could have wormed them out, even though the secret regarded themselves.