14 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAIOT-SIMOK

Fagon, whom nobody else would have dared to attack Fagon

by disdain, often by anger, and with all his wit was

These short scenes were sometimes very

amusing.
; Brissac, a few years before his retirement, served the Court

a nice turn. All through the winter they attended

evening prayers on Thursdays and Sundays, because the King
went there; and, under the pretence of reading their prayer-
little tapers before them, which cast a light on their
and enabled the King to recognise them as he passed.
On the when they knew he would not go, scarcely

1 one of went. One evening, when the Bang was expected,

al the arrived, and were in their places, and the

at their doors. Suddenly, Brissac appeared in the
lifted his baton, and cried aloud, " Guards of the
return to your quarters; the King is not
this evening/* The guards withdrew; but after they
a short distance, were stopped by brigadiers
for the purpose^ and told to return in a few minutes.
What said was a joke. The ladies at once began

to one to another. In a moment or two all the

candles put out, and the ladies, with but few exceptions,

left the chapel. Soon after the King arrived, and, much
astonished to see so few ladies present, asked how it was that
nobody there. At the conclusion of the prayers Brissac
he had done, not without dwelling on the piety
of the Court ladies. The King and all who accompanied him
heartihr. The story soon spread, and these ladies
| Brissac if they had been able.

| de Bourgogne being in the family way this

I inconvenienced. The King wished to go to

| at the commencement of the fine season,, con-

| to his custom; had declared this wish. In

I the he to pay visits to Marly. Madame

I cle Mm; he could not do without her,

I yet so was not suitable to her state. Madame

I <le and Fagon gently • intimated his