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.

I have seen, but very rarely, Monseigneur and his sons standing at their dinners, the King not offering them a seat.  I have continually seen there the Princes of the blood and the cardinals.  I have often seen there also Monsieur, either on arriving from Saint-Cloud to see the King, or arriving from the council of despatches (the only one he entered), give the King his napkin and remain standing.  A little while afterwards, the King, seeing that he did not go away, asked him if he would not sit down; he bowed, and the King ordered a seat to be brought for him.  A stool was put behind him.  Some moments after the King said, “Nay then, sit down, my brother.”  Monsieur bowed and seated himself until the end of the dinner, when he presented the napkin.

At other times when he came from Saint-Cloud, the King, on arriving at the table, asked for a plate for Monsieur, or asked him if he would dine.  If he refused, he went away a moment after, and there was no mention of a seat; if he accepted, the King asked for a plate for him.  The table was square, he placed himself at one end, his back to the cabinet.  Then the Grand Chamberlain (or the first gentleman of the chamber) gave him drink and plates, taking them from him as he finished with them, exactly as he served the King; but Monsieur received all this attention with strongly marked politeness.  When he dined thus with the King he much enlivened the conversation.  The King ordinarily spoke little at table unless some family favourite was near.  It was the same at hid rising.  Ladies scarcely ever were seen at these little dinners.