46 aiEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON".

I was put then in the apartments of the Comtesse de Roncy,
from which I could see all that passed. I came down, and saw
the Prince ascending tne steps between the Dues de Beauvilliers
and De la Rocheguyon, who happened to be there. He looked
quite satisfied, was gay, and laughing, and spoke right and
left. I bowed to him. He did me the honour to embrace xne-
in a way that showed me he knew better what was going on •
than how to maintain his dignity. He then talked only to me,
and whispered that he knew what I had said. A troop of
courtiers met him. In their midst he passed the Great Hall of
the Guards, and instead of going to Madame de Maintenon's by
the private door, though the nearest way, went to the great
public entrance. There was no one there but the King and
, *j Madame de Maintenon, with Pontchartrain; for I do not count

>'\ the Duchesse de Bourgogne. Pontchartrain noted well what

/ '?* passed at the interview, and related it all to me that very

I I evening.

* ) As soon as in Madame de Maintenon's apartment was heard

I *' the rumour which usually precedes such an arrival, the King

| / became sufficiently embarrassed to change countenance several

l rf times. The Duchesse de Bourgogne appeared somewhat tremu-

^1 lous, and fluttered about the room to hide her trouble, pretend-

| ing not to know exactly by which door the Prince would arrive.

Madame de Maintenon was thoughtful. Suddenly all the doors
flew open: the young Prince advanced towards the King, who,
master of himself, more than any one ever was, lost at once all
embarrassment, took two or three steps towards his grandson,
embraced him with some demonstration of tenderness, spoke of
his voyage, and then pointing to the Princesse, said, with a
smiling countenance: "Do you say nothing to her?" The
Prince turned a moment towards her, and answered respectfully,
SB if he dared not turn away from the Bang, and did not move.
He then saluted Madame de Maintenon, who received him well.
Talk of travel, beds, roads, and so forth,,lasted, all standing,,
some half-quarter of an hour; then the King said it would not
be fair to deprive him any longer of the pleasure of being alone
with Madame la Duchesse de Bourgogne, and that they would