210 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

believed in his guilt so little that our intimacy remained the
same: and although that intimacy grew even, up to'the deatli
of the King, we never spoke of this fatal snuff-box.

During the night, from Monday to Tuesday, the 9th of
February, the lethargy was great. During the day the King
approached the bed many times: the fever was strong, the
awakenings were short; the head was confused, and some marks
upon the skin gave tokens of measles, because they extended
quickly, and because many people at Versailles and at Paris
were known to be, at this time, attacked with that disease.
The night from Tuesday to Wednesday passed so much the more
badly, because the hope of measles had already vanished. The
King came in the morning to see Madame la Dauphine, to
whom an emetic had been given. It operated well, but
produced no relief. The Dauphin, who scarcely ever left the
bedside of his wife, was forced into the garden to take the air,
of which he had much need; but his disquiet led him back
immediately into the chamber. The malady increased towards
the evening, and at eleven o'clock there was a considerable
augmentation of fever. The night was very bad. On Thursday,
the llth of February, at nine o'clock in the morning, the King
entered the Dauphine's chamber, which Madame de Maintenon
scarcely ever left, except when he was in her apartments. The
Princess was so ill that it was resolved to speak to her of re-
ceiving the sacrament. Prostrated though she was she was
surprised at this. She put some questions as to her state; re-
plies as little terrifying as possible were given to her, and little
by little she was warned against delay. Grateful for this
advice, she said she would prepare herself.

After some time, accidents being feared, Father la Rue, her
(Jesuit) confessor, whom she had always appeared to like,
approached her to exhort her not to delay confession. She
looked at him, replied that she understood him, and then re-
mained silent. Like a sensible man he saw what was the
matter, and at once said that if she had any objection to con-
fess to him to have no hesitation in admitting it. Thereupon
she indicated that she should like to have M. Bailly, priest of