178 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON".

received with a contrite and willing air the absolution of the
Cure.

As the King rose from the supper-table, he well nigh, fell
backward when Fagon, coming forward, cried in. great trouble
that all was lost. It may be imagined what terror seized all
the company at this abrupt passage from perfect security to
hopeless despair. The King, scarcely master of himself, at once
began to go towards the apartment of Monseigneur, and re-
pelled very stiffly the indiscreet eagerness of some courtiers
who wished to prevent him, saying that he would see his son
again, and be quite certain that nothing could be done. As he
was about to enter the chamber, Madame la Princesse de Oonti
presented herself before him, and prevented him from going in.
She pushed him back with her hands, and said that henceforth,
he had only to think of himself. Then the King, nearly faint-
ing from a shock so complete and so sudden, fell upon a sofa
that stood near. He asked unceasingly for news of all who
passed, but scarce anybody dared to reply to him. He had sent
for Pere Tellier who went into Monseigneur's room; but it was
no longer time. It is true the Jesuit, perhaps to console the
King, said that he gave him a well-founded absolution. Madame
de Alaintenon hastened after the King, and sitting down beside
him on the same sofa, tried to cry. She endeavoured to
lead away the King into the carriage already waiting for him
in the court-yard, but he would not go, and sat thus outside the
door until Monseigneur had expired.

The agony, without consciousness, of Monseigneur lasted
more than an hour after the King had come into the cabinet.
Madame la Duchesse and Madame la Princesse de Conti
divided their cares between the dying man and the King-, to
whom they constantly came back; whilst the faculty con-
founded, the valets bewildered, the courtiers hurrying and
murmuring, hustled against each other, and moved unceasingly
to and fro, backwards and forwards, in the same narrow space.
At last the fatal moment arrived. Fagon came out, and allowed
so much to be understood.

The King, much afflicted, and very grieved that Monseigneur's