THE KING'S LAST ACTS. 349

worked with the Chancellor. At night, Fagon slept for the
^ first time in his chamber.

Sunday, the 18th of August, passed like the preceding days.
Fagon pretended there had been no fever. The King held a
Council of State before and after his dinner; worked afterwards
upon the fortifications with Pelletier; then passed to Madame
de Maintenon's, where there was music.

Monday, the 19th, and Tuesday, the 20th of August, passed

^ much as the previous days, excepting that on the latter the

J^ King supped in his dressing-gown, seated in an arm-chair; and

j that after this evening he never left his room or dressed him-

\ -self again. That same day Madame de Saint-Simon, whom I

! had pressed to return, came back from the waters of Forges.

\ The King, entering after supper into his cabinet, perceived her.

| He ordered his chair to be stopped; spoke to her very kindly

I upon her journey and her return; then had himself wheeled on

I by Bloin into the other cabinet. She was the last Court lady

A to whom he spoke. I don't count those who were always near

him, and who came to him when he could no longer leave his

i room. Madame de Saint-Simon said to me in the evening

that she should not have recognised the King if she had met

him anywhere else. Yet she had left Marly for Forges only on

the 6th of July.

On Wednesday, the 21st of August, four physicians saw the.
King, but took care to do nothing except praise Fagon, who
4 gave him cassia. For some days it had been perceived that he

•ate meat and even bread with difficulty, (though all his life
he had eaten but little of the latter, and for some time only the
•crumb, because he had no teeth). Soup in larger quantity,
hash very light, and eggs compensated him; but he ate very
sparingly.

On Thursday, the 22nd of August, the King was still worse.
He saw four other physicians, who, like the first four, did
^ nothing but admire the learned and admirable treatment of

Fagon, who made him take towards evening some Jesuit bark
and water and intended to give him at night, ass's milk. This
same day, the King ordered the Due de la Kochefoucauld to