RISE OF 1UDAME BE MAINTESOX.

377

de Montespan, Madame de Maintenon owed the fortune

•she met with fourteen or fifteen years later. de

Montespan continually visited the Hotel d'Albret, and was
much impressed with Madame Scarron. She conceived a
friendship for the obliging widow, and when she had her first
children by the King—M. du Maine and Madame la Duchesse,
whom the King wished to conceal—she proposed that they
should be confided to Madame Scarron. A house in the Marais
was accordingly given to her, to lodge in with them, and the
means to bring them up, but in the utmost secrecy. After-
wards, these children were taken to Madame de Montespan,
then shown to the King, and then by degrees drawn from
secrecy and avowed. Their governess, being established with
them at''the Court, more and more pleased Madame de Montes-
pan, who several times made the King give presents to her.
He, on the other hand, could not endure her; what he gave to
her, always little, was by excess of complaisance and with a
regret that he did not hide.

The estate of Maintenon being for sale, Madame de Montes-
pan did not let the King rest until she had drawn from
enough to buy it for Madame Scarron, who thenceforth
its name. She obtained enough also for the of the

chateau, and then attacked the King for means to the

garden, which the former owners had allowed to go to ruin.

It was at the toilette of Madame de Monfcespan
demands were made. The captain of the guards followed

the King there. M. le Marshal de Lorges, the that

ever lived, held that post then, and he has often to me

the scene he witnessed. The King at first turned a ear to
the request of Madame de Montespan, and then refused.
Annoyed that she still insisted, he said he had done

more than enough for this creature; that he could not under-
stand the fancy of Madame de Montespan for her, her
obstinacy in keeping her after he had begged her so many
times to dismiss her; that he admitted Madame Searron
insupportable to him, and provided he never saw her more and
never heard speak of her, he would open his purse again,