190 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

during the illness of Monseigneur, the King, as I have said,
asked Madame de Maintenon if she had seen Mademoiselle
Choin, and upon receiving a negative reply, was displeased.
Instead of driving her away from the chateau he inquired par-
ticularly after her! This, to say the least, looked as though
Mademoiselle Choin was Monseigneur's Maintenon; .but the
matter remained incomprehensible to the last. Mademoiselle
Choin threw no light upon it, although she spoke on many
other things concerning Monseigneur in the modest home at
Paris, to which she had retired for the rest of her days. The
King gave her a pension of twelve thousand livres.

Monseigneur was, I have said, ignorant to the last degree,
and had a thorough aversion for learning; so that, according to
his own admission, ever since he had been released from the
hands of teachers he had never read anything except the article
in the " Gazette de France," in which deaths and marriages are
recorded. His timidity, especially before the King, was equal
to his ignorance, which indeed contributed not a little to cause
it. The King took advantage of it, and never treated him as a
son, but as a subject. He was the monarch always, never the
father. Monseigneur had not the slightest influence with the
King. If he showed any preference for a person it was enough!
That person was sure to be kept back by the King. The King
was so anxious to show that Monseigneur could do nothing,
that Monseigneur after a time did not even try. He contented
himself by complaining occasionally in monosyllables, and by
hoping for better times.

The body of Monseigneur so soon grew decomposed, that im-
mediate burial was necessary. At midnight on Wednesday lie
was carried, with but little ceremony, to St. Denis, and de-
posited in the royal vaults. His funeral services were said 'at
St. Denis on the 18th of the following June, and at!N6tre Dame
on the 3rd of July. As the procession passed through Paris
nothing but cries, acclamations, and eulogiums of the defunct
were heard. Monseigneur had, I know not how, much en-
deared himself to the common people of Paris, and this senti-
ment soon gained the provinces ; so true it is, that in France it
costs little to its Princes to make themselves almost adored!