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It was a happy inspiration that led Scarron's widow to the King's favourite, for Madame de Montespan's heart, ever better than her life, went out to the gentle woman whom fate was treating so scurvily.

"You saw her then only for a few days and she was so young!" "What are days or years? Things lie deep in us till some great moment, and then they spring into life and are ours for ever. When I kissed King Louis' hand I knew that I loved my king; when De Montespan's. I hated, and shall hate always. When I first saw this English girl I waked from youth, I was born again into the world.

The sequel, indeed, appeared to justify Madame de Montespan's faith in sorcery, and to compensate her for all the horror to which in her despair she had submitted. Madame de Ludres found herself coldly regarded by the convalescent King. Very soon she was discarded, the Widow Scarron neglected, and the fickle monarch was once more at the feet of the lovely marchioness, her utter and devoted slave.

When her father, the Duc de Chartres, took to wife Mademoiselle de Blois, Montespan's daughter, there were many who significantly shrugged their shoulders and curled their lips at such a union; and one at least, the Duc's mother, Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine, was undisguisedly furious.

He noted the time at which he saw the Marshal go into Montespan's apartment, and it was precisely nine months from that time that the Duchess came into the world. This German, whose name was Bettendorf, was a brigadier in the Body Guard; and he was on guard at Montespan's when the captain of the first company paid this visit to the King's mistress.

Ambition formed no part of her love for the King; she had a real passion for him, and never loved any other person. It was at Montespan's instigation that the King behaved so ill to her.

Acquaintance with Madame de Montespan. The King's Children. His Dislike of Widow Scarron. Purchase of the Maintenon Estate. Further Demands. M. du Maine on His Travels. Montespan's Ill humour. Madame de Maintenon Supplants Her. Her Bitter Annoyance. Progress of the New Intrigue. Marriage of the King and Madame de Maintenon. Character of Madame de Maintenon. Her Conversation.

At the request of the Queen, the Bishop of Laon was afterwards presented with the hat, and is, today, my lord Cardinal d'Estrees. Mademoiselle de Valois. Mademoiselle d'Orleans. Mademoiselle d'Alencon. M. de Savoie. His Love-letters. His Marriage with Mademoiselle de Valois. M. de Guise and Mademoiselle d'Alencon. Their Marriage Ceremony. Madame de Montespan's Dog. Mademoiselle d'Orleans.

This mark of irreverence towards the Queen is the only one for which Mademoiselle de la Valliere can be blamed; but she would never have done such a thing of her own accord; it was all the fault of the Marquise, blinded as she was by ambition. The King Contemplates the Conquest of Holland. The Grand Seignior's Embassy. Madame de Montespan's Chance of Becoming First Lady of the Harem.

"I intend to appear there, because I am compelled to do so," returned the duchess; "but I do not know that it is incumbent upon me to be as gay as a peacock, on the occasion of my poor Philip's betrothal to that girl of De Montespan's. To me it is more like a funeral than a festival, so you may get out my suit of court mourning. The skirt of black velvet, the train and head-dress of purple."