VI. vied with his Queen in benevolent actions of this kind. An old
officer had in vain solicited a pension during the administration of the
Duc de Choiseul. He returned to the charge in the times of the Marquis de
Montesnard and the Duc d'Aiguillon. He urged his claims, to Comte du Muy,
who made a note of them. Tired of so many fruitless efforts, he at last
appeared at the King's supper, and, having placed himself so as to be seen
and heard, cried out at a moment when silence prevailed, "Sire." The
people near him said, "What are you about? This is not the way to speak
to the King."--"I fear nothing," said he, and raising his voice, repeated,
"Sire." The King, much surprised, looked at him and said, "What do you
want, monsieur."--"Sire," answered he, "I am seventy years of age; I have
served your Majesty more than fifty years, and I am dying for
want."--"Have you a memorial?" replied the King. "Yes, Sire, I
have."--"Give it to me;" and his Majesty took it without saying anything
more. Next morning he was sent for by the, King, who said, "Monsieur, I
grant you an annuity of 1,500 livres out of my privy purse, and you may go
and receive the first year's payment, which is now due." ("Secret
Correspondence of the Court: Reign of Louis XVI.") The King preferred to
spend money in charity rather than in luxury or magnificence. Once during
his absence, M. d'Augivillers caused an unused room in the King's
apartment to be repaired at a cost of 30,000 francs. On his return the
King made Versailles resound with complaints against M. d'Augivillers:
"With that sum I could have made thirty families happy," he said.]

CHAPTER IX.

From the time of Louis XVI.'s accession to the throne, the Queen had been
expecting a visit from her brother, the Emperor Joseph II. That Prince
was the constant theme of her discourse. She boasted of his intelligence,
his love of occupation, his military knowledge, and the perfect simplicity
of his manners. Those about her Majesty ardently wished to see at
Versailles a prince so worthy of his rank. At length the coming of Joseph
II., under the title of Count Falkenstein, was announced, and the very day
on which he would be at Versailles was mentioned. The first embraces
between the Queen and her august brother took place in the presence of all
the Queen's household. The sight of their emotion was extremely
affecting.

The Emperor was at first generally admired in France; learned me