; he wins where others lose; he neglects nothing, profits by
every thing, never has his attention diverted; in short, his
science bids defiance to chance. Two hundred thousand francs in ten
days, a hundred thousand crowns in a month, these are the pretty
memorandums he puts down in his pocket-book. He was kind enough to
say that I was partners with him, so that I got an excellent seat.
I made my obeisance to the king, as you told me; and he returned it
as if I had been young and handsome.... The duke said a thousand
kind things without minding a word he uttered. Marshal de Lorges
attacked me in the name of the Chevalier de Grignan; in short,
_tutti quanti_ [the whole company]. You know what it is to get a
word from everybody you meet. Madame de Montespan talked to me of
Bourbon, and asked me how I liked Vichi, and whether the place did
me good. She said that Bourbon, instead of curing a pain in one of
her knees, injured both.... Her size is reduced by a good half, and
yet her complexion, her eyes, and her lips, are as fine as ever.
She was dressed all in French point, her hair in a thousand
ringlets, the two side ones hanging low on her cheeks, black
ribbons on her head, pearls (the same that belonged to Madame de
l'Hopital), the loveliest diamond earrings, three or four
bodkins--nothing else on the head; in short, a triumphant beauty,
worthy the admiration of all the foreign ambassadors. She was
accused of preventing the whole French nation from seeing the king;
she has restored him, you see, to their eyes; and you cannot
conceive the joy it has given all the world, and the splendor it
has thrown upon the court. This charming confusion, without
confusion, of all which is the most select, continues from three
till six. If couriers arrive, the king retires a moment to read the
despatches, and returns. There is always some music going on, to
which he listens, and which has an excellent effect. He talks with
such of the ladies as are accustomed to enjoy that honor.... At
six the carriages are at the door. The king is in one of them with
Madame de Montespan, Monsieur and Madame de Thianges, and honest
d'Heudicourt in a fool's paradise on the stool. You know how these
open carriages are made; they do not sit face to face, but all
looking the same way. The