128 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

ihe most indispensable claims of a necessary and unfortunate
-war-—was more annoyed this time than on any other occasion,
.although he had often received the same warnings. Madame
de Maintenon had the greatest difficulty to hinder him from
returning straight to Versailles. The upshot was that the King
•declared with a sort of bitter joy, that he would no longer feed
the ladies at Marly; that for the future he would dine alone,
.simply, as at Versailles; that he would sup every day at a
table for sixteen with his family, and that the spare places
should be occupied by ladies invited in the morning; that the
Princesses of his family should each have a table for the ladies
they brought with them; and that Madames Voysin and Desma-
jets should each have one for the ladies who did not choose to
eat in their own rooms. He added bitterly, that by making
retrenchments at Marly he should not spend more there than at
Versailles, so that he could go there when he pleased without
being exposed to the blame of any one. He deceived himself from
one end of this business to the other, but nobody but himself
was deceived, if indeed he was in any other way but in expect-
ing to deceive the world. The truth is, that no change was
made at Marly, except in name. The same expenses went on.
The enemies insultingly ridiculed these retrenchments. The
King's subjects did not cease to complain.

About this time an invitation to Marly having been obtained
by Madame la Duchesse for her daughters. Mademoiselles de
Bourbon and de Cbarolois, the King offered one to Mademoi-
selle. This offer was discussed before the Due and Duchesse
-d'Orleans and me. We at last resolved to leave Mademoiselle ^
&i Versailles ; and not to be troubled by seeing Mademoiselle de
Bourbon passing her days in the same salon, often at the same
play-table with the Due de Berry, making herself admired by
the Court, fluttering round Monseigneur, and accustoming the
•eye of the King to her. We knew that these trifles would not
bring about a marriage; and it was still more important not to
give up Mademoiselle to the malignity of the Court, to exposure,
and complaints, from which it might not always be possible to
protect her.