THE KING OF SPAIN WANTS A WIFE. 267

felt that to render this habit lasting she must assure herself of
him at all moments. He was accustomed to take the air, and
he was in want of it all the more now because he had been
much shut up during the last days of the Queen's illness, and
the first which followed her death. Madame des Ursins chose
four or five gentlemen to accompany him, to the exclusion of
all others, even his chief officers, and people still more necessary.
These gentlemen charged with the amusement of the King,
were called recreadores. "With so much circumspection,
importunity, preparation, and rumour carefully circulated, it
was not doubted that Madame des Ursins intended to marry
him; and the opinion, as well as the fear, became general. The
King (Louis XIV.), was infinitely alarmed; and Madame de
Maintenon, who had twice tried to be proclaimed Queen and
twice failed, was distracted with jealousy. However, if
Madame des Ursins flattered herself then, it was not for
long.

The King of Spain, always curious to learn the news from
France, often demanded them of his confessor, the only man to
whom he could speak who was not under the thumb of Madame
des Ursins. The clever and courageous Robinet, as disturbed
as others at the progress of the design, which nobody in. the
two Courts of France and Spain doubted was in execution,
allowed himself to be pressed by questions—in an embrasure
where the King had drawn him—played the reserved and the
mysterious in order to excite curiosity more. When he saw it
was sufficiently excited, he said that since he was forced to
speak, his news from France was the same as that at Madrid,
where no one doubted that the King would do the Princesse
des Ursins the honour to espouse her. The King blushed and
hastily replied, " Marry her 1 oh no! not that! " and quitted
him.

Whether the Princess des (Jrsins was informed of this sharp
repartee, or whether she despaired already of success, she
changed about; and judging that this interregnum in the
Palace of Medina-Celi could not last for ever, resolved to assure
herself of the King by a Queen who should owe to her such a