of
Versailles. On the news of your appointment the town should have been
illuminated."--"How so, Madame?" asked the astonished surgeon, who was
very modest. "Why," replied the Queen, "if the poor whom you have
succoured for the past twenty years had each placed a single candle in
their windows it would have been the most beautiful illumination ever
witnessed."

The Queen did not limit her kindness to friendly words. There was
frequently seen in the apartments of Versailles a veteran captain of the
grenadiers of France, called the Chevalier d'Orville, who for four years
had been soliciting from the Minister of War the post of major, or of
King's lieutenant. He was known to be very poor; but he supported his lot
without complaining of this vexatious delay in rewarding his honourable
services. He regularly attended the Marechal de Segur, at the hour
appointed for receiving the numerous solicitations in his department. One
day the Marshal said to him: "You are still at Versailles, M.
d'Orville?"--"Monsieur," he replied, "you may observe that by this board
of the flooring where I regularly place myself; it is already worn down
several lines by the weight of my body." The Queen frequently stood at
the window of her bedchamber to observe with her glass the people walking
in the park. Sometimes she inquired the names of those who were unknown
to her. One day she saw the Chevalier d'Orville passing, and asked me the
name of that knight of Saint Louis, whom she had seen everywhere for a
long time past. I knew who he was, and related his history. "That must
be put an end to," said the Queen, with some vivacity. "Such an example
of indifference is calculated to discourage our soldiers." Next day, in
crossing the gallery to go to mass, the Queen perceived the Chevalier
d'Orville; she went directly towards him. The poor man fell back in the
recess of a window, looking to the right and left to discover the person
whom the Queen was seeking, when she thus addressed him: "M. d'Orville,
you have been several years at Versailles, soliciting a majority or a
King's lieutenancy. You must have very powerless patrons."--"I have none,
Madame," replied the Chevalier, in great confusion. "Well! I will take
you under my protection. To-morrow at the same hour be here with a
petition, and a memorial of your services." A fortnight after, M.
d'Orville was appointed King's lieutenant, either at La Rochelle or at
Rochefort.

[Louis X