her side the bronze and marble chimney-piece, and the
sculptures of the cornice. The painting on the ceiling--the Apotheosis
of Hercules--was first seen by His Majesty as he passed through the
room on his way to mass on a day in September, 1736. He examined it
with much attention (some one has taken the trouble to record), and
demonstrated his satisfaction by forthwith naming Sire Le Moine, the
creator of the work, his chief painter. And thereon hangs a tragic
tale. So great was Le Moine's pride in the honor thus done him that he
determined to bring his work to still higher perfection. He resolved
to finish each detail with the same exactitude as though he were
painting a canvas that was to be observed at close range. But the more
he applied his brush to bring out intricate effects, the less the
design pleased him. In a sudden revulsion for the completed work, he
effaced it and began the entire painting anew. This time he was better
satisfied, though critics attached to the Court esteemed the second
canvas not so good as the one destroyed. Upon the completion of the
decorative scheme, the Sovereign bestowed upon Le Moine 5,000 _livres_
for the _Salon d'Hercule_. Then, to his chagrin, the over-careful
artist discovered that he was out of pocket 24,000 _livres_ by the
transaction. The loss turned his head; seized by grief and
disappointment he committed suicide.

This salon served during the reign of Louis XV as a ball-room, and here
in March, 1749, the Monarch was formally presented with two young
ostriches, brought from Egypt and destined for the Menagerie.

In contrast to the passion for ostentation exhibited by Louis XIV, his
great-grandson and successor was chiefly occupied in finding ways to
evade his gilded prison. When the demand of the Court necessitated his
presence at Versailles, he sought diversion in changing the apartments,
making them over, demolishing here, reconstructing there--expending
vast sums at all times. In 1738, finding the chamber of Louis XIV cold
and inconvenient, he ordered another suite to be arranged for him on
the second floor of the chateau above the Marble Court, and here he
lived at his ease, untrammeled by etiquette and far from the curious
gaze of courtiers. Small living rooms, kitchens, grills and bakeries
were built on the Court of the Stags, and above the private apartments
of Louis XIV rooms were added for the favorites of the King.

The storied Staircase of the Amb