It was the same with the play-table, which he liked to see always well frequented—­with high stakes—­in the saloon at Marly, for lansquenet and other games.  He amused himself at Fontainebleau during bad weather by seeing good players at tennis, in which he had formerly excelled; and at Marly by seeing mall played, in which he had also been skilful.  Sometimes when there was no council, he would make presents of stuff, or of silverware, or jewels, to the ladies, by means of a lottery, for the tickets of which they paid nothing.  Madame de Maintenon drew lots with the others, and almost always gave at once what she gained.  The King took no ticket.

Upon returning home from walks or drives, anybody, as I have said, might speak to the King from the moment he left his coach till he reached the foot of his staircase.  He changed his dress again, and rested in his cabinet an hour or more, then went to Madame de Maintenon’s, and on the way any one who wished might speak to him.

At ten o’clock his supper was served.  The captain of the guard announced this to him.  A quarter of an hour after the King came to supper, and from the antechamber of Madame de Maintenon to the table—­again, any one spoke to him who wished.  This supper was always on a grand scale, the royal household (that is, the sons and daughters of France) at table, and a large number of courtiers and ladies present, sitting or standing, and on the evening before the journey to Marly all those ladies who wished to take part in it.  That was called presenting yourself for Marly.  Men asked in the morning, simply saying to the King, “Sire, Marly.”  In later years the King grew tired of this, and a valet wrote up in the gallery the names of those who asked.  The ladies continued to present themselves.

After supper the King stood some moments, his back to the balustrade of the foot of his bed, encircled by all his Court; then, with bows to the ladies, passed into his cabinet, where, on arriving, he gave his orders.

He passed a little less than an hour there, seated in an armchair, with his legitimate children and bastards, his grandchildren, legitimate and otherwise, and their husbands or wives.  Monsieur in another armchair; the Princesses upon stools, Monseigneur and all the other Princes standing.

The King, wishing to retire, went and fed his dogs; then said good night, passed into his chamber to the ‘ruelle’ of his bed, where he said his prayers, as in the morning, then undressed.  He said good night with an inclination of the head, and whilst everybody was leaving the room stood at the corner of the mantelpiece, where he gave the order to the colonel of the guards alone.  Then commenced what was called the ‘petit coucher’, at which only the specially privileged remained.  That was short.  They did not leave until be got into bed.  It was a moment to speak to him.  Then all left if they saw any one buckle to the King.  For ten or twelve years before he died the ‘petit coucher’ ceased, in consequence of a long attack of gout be had had; so that the Court was finished at the rising from supper.