188 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

was up; but it must Ibe admitted that such restlessness is sweet,
and such re-awakenings are savoury.

Horror reigned at Meudon. As soon as tho King left, all tho
•courtiers left also, crowding into tho first carriages that came-
In an instant Men don was empty. Mademoiselle Choin re-
mained alone in her garret, and unaware of what had taken
place. She learned it only by the cry raised. Nobody thought
of telling her. At last some friends wont up to her, hurried
hor into a hired coach, and took her to Paris. Tho dispersion
was general. One or two valets, at the most, remained near
the body. La Vrilliere, to his praise be it said, was tho only
courtier who, not having abandoned Monseigneur during life,
did not abandon him after his death. He had some difficulty
to find somebody to go in search of Capuchins to pray over tho
corpse. The decomposition became so rapid and so great, that
the opening of the windows was not enough; the Capuchins,
La Yrillibre, and tho valets, were compelled to pass the night
outside.

At Marly everybody had felt so confident that the King's
return there was not dreamt of. Nothing was ready, no keys
of the rooms, no fires, scarcely an end of candle. Tho King
was more than an hour thus with Madame do Maintonon and
•other ladies in one of tho ante-chambers. Tho King retired
into a corner, seated between Madame do Maintcnon and two
other ladies, arid wept at long intervals. At last tlio chamber
of Maclamo de Maintcnon was ready. Tho King entered, re-
mained there an hour, and then went to bed at nearly four
o'clock in tho morning.

Monseigneur was rather tall than short; very fat, but with-
out being bloated; with a very lofty and noble aspect without
any harshness ; and ho would have had a very agreeable face if
M. le Prince de Conti had not unfortunately broken his nose in
playing while they were both young. He was of a very beau-
tiful fair complexion; ho had a face every where covered with
a healthy red, but without expression; the most beautiful legs
in the world; his feet singularly small and delicate. Ho
wavered always in walking, and felt his way with his feet; he