按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
haser himself took in a bag the price of the house in gold to the King in his private closet。
＇Until recently little was known about the Parc…aux…Cerfs； and it was believed that a great number of young women had been maintained there at enormous expense。 The investigations of M。 J。 A。 Le Roi； given in his interesting work； 〃Curiosites Historiques sur Louis XIII。； Louis XIV。； Louis XV。；〃 etc。； Paris； Plon； 1864； have thrown fresh light upon the matter。 The result he arrives at （see page 229 of his work） is that the house in question （No。 4 Rue St。 Mederic； on the site of the Pare…aux…Cerfs； or breeding…place for deer； of Louis XIII） was very small； and could have held only one girl； the woman in charge of her； and a servant。 Most of the girls left it only when about to be confined； and it sometimes stood vacant for five or six months。 It may have been rented before the date of purchase； and other houses seem sometimes to have been used also； but in any case； it is evident that both the number of girls and the expense incurred have been absurdly exaggerated。 The system flourished under Madame de Pompadour； but ceased as soon as Madame du Barry obtained full power over the King； and the house was then sold to M。 J。 B。 Sevin for 16；000 livres； on 27th May； 1771； Louis not acting under the name of Louis de Bourbon； but as King；〃Vente par le Roi； notre Sire。〃 In 1755 he had also been declared its purchaser in a similar manner。 Thus； Madame Campan is in error in saying that the King made the contract as Louis de Bourbon。＇＇And it also possible that Madam Campan was correct and that the house she refers to as sold for a 〃bag of gold〃 was another of the several of the seraglio establishments of Louis XV。 D。W。＇
Louis XV。 saw very little of his family。 He came every morning by a private staircase into the apartment of Madame Adelaide。
＇Louis XV。 seemed to feel for Madame Adelaide the tenderness he had had for the Duchesse de Bourgogne； his mother； who perished so suddenly； under the eyes and almost in the arms of Louis XIV。 The birth of Madame Ad6laide； 23d March； 1732； was followed by that of Madame Victoire Louise Marie Therese on the 11th May； 1733。 Louis had； besides； six daughters： Mesdames Sophie and Louise； who are mentioned in this chapter； the Princesses Marie and Felicite； who died young； Madame Henriette died at Versailles in 1752； aged twenty…four； and finally； Madame the Duchess of Parma； who also died at the Court。＇
He often brought and drank there coffee that he had made himself。 Madame Adelaide pulled a bell which apprised Madame Victoire of the King's visit； Madame Victoire； on rising to go to her sister's apartment； rang for Madame Sophie； who in her turn rang for Madame Louise。 The apartments of Mesdames were of very large dimensions。 Madame Louise occupied the farthest room。 This latter lady was deformed and very short； the poor Princess used to run with all her might to join the daily meeting； but； having a number of rooms to cross； she frequently in spite of her haste； had only just time to embrace her father before he set out for the chase。
Every evening； at six； Mesdames interrupted my reading to them to accompany the princes to Louis XV。； this visit was called the King's 'debotter'；＇Debotter； meaning the time of unbooting。＇ and was marked by a kind of etiquette。 Mesdames put on an enormous hoop； which set out a petticoat ornamented with gold or embroidery； they fastened a long train round their waists； and concealed the undress of the rest of their clothing by a long cloak of black taffety which enveloped them up to the chin。 The chevaliers d'honneur； the ladies in waiting； the pages； the equerries； and the ushers bearing large flambeaux； accompanied them to the King。 In a moment the whole palace； generally so still； was in motion； the King kissed each Princess on the forehead； and the visit was so short that the reading which it interrupted was frequently resumed at the end of a quarter of an hour； Mesdames returned to their apartments； and untied the strings of their petticoats and trains； they resumed their tapestry； and I my book。
During the summer season the King sometimes came to the residence of Mesdames before the hour of his 'debotter'。 One day he found me alone in Madame Victoire's closet； and asked me where 'Coche'＇Piggy＇ was； I started； and he repeated his question； but without being at all the more understood。 When the King was gone I asked Madame of whom he spoke。 She told me that it was herself； and very coolly explained to me； that； being the fattest of his daughters； the King had given her the familiar name of 'Coche'； that he called Madame Adelaide； 'Logue' ＇Tatters＇； Madame Sophie； 'Graille'＇Mite＇； and Madame Louise； 'Chiffie'＇Rubbish＇。 The people of the King's household observed that he knew a great number of such words； possibly he had amused himself with picking them out from dictionaries。 If this style of speaking betrayed the habits and tastes of the King； his manner savoured nothing of such vulgarity； his walk was easy and noble； he had a dignified carriage of the head； and his aspect； with out being severe； was imposing； he combined great politeness with a truly regal demeanour； and gracefully saluted the humblest woman whom curiosity led into his path。
He was very expert in a number of trifling matters which never occupy attention but when there is a lack of something better to employ it； for instance； he would knock off the top of an egg…shell at a single stroke of his fork； he therefore always ate eggs when he dined in public； and the Parisians who came on Sundays to see the King dine； returned home less struck with his fine figure than with the dexterity with which he broke his eggs。
Repartees of Louis XV。； which marked the keenness of his wit and the elevation of his sentiments； were quoted with pleasure in the assemblies of Versailles。
This Prince was still beloved； it was wished that a style of life suitable to his age and dignity should at length supersede the errors of the past； and justify the love of his subjects。 It was painful to judge him harshly。 If he had established avowed mistresses at Court； the uniform devotion of the Queen was blamed for it。 Mesdames were reproached for not seeking to prevent the King's forming an intimacy with some new favourite。 Madame Henriette； twin sister of the Duchess of Parma； was much regretted； for she had considerable influence over the King's mind； and it was remarked that if she had lived she would have been assiduous in finding him amusements in the bosom of his family； would have followed him in his short excursions； and would have done the honours of the 'petits soupers' which he was so fond of giving in his private apartments。
Mesdames too much neglected the means of pleasing the wing； but the cause of that was obvious in the little attention he had paid them in their youth。
In order to console the people under their sufferings； and to shut their eyes to the real depredations on the treasury； the ministers occasionally pressed the most extravagant measures of reform in the King's household； and even in his personal expenses。
Cardinal Fleury； who in truth had the merit of reestablishing the finances； carried this system of economy so far as to obtain from the King the suppression of the household of the four younger Princesses。 They were brought up as mere boarders in a convent eighty leagues distant from the Court。 Saint Cyr would have been more suitable for the reception of the King's daughters； but probably the Cardinal shared some of those prejudices which will always attach to even the most useful institutions； and which； since the death of Louis XIV。； had been raised against the noble establishment of Madame de Maintenon。 Madame Louise often assured me that at twelve years of age she was not mistress of the whole alphabet； and never learnt to read fluently until after her return to Versailles。
Madame Victoire attributed certain paroxysms of terror； which she was never able to conquer； to the violent alarms she experienced at the Abbey of Fontevrault； whenever she was sent； by way of penance； to pray alone in the vault where the sisters were interred。
A gardener belonging to the abbey died raving mad。 His habitation； without the walls； was near a chapel of the abbey； where Mesdames were taken to repeat the prayers for those in the agonies of death。 Their prayers were more than once interrupted by the shrieks of the dying man。
When Mesdames； still very young； returned to Court； they enjoyed the friendship of Monseigneur the Dauphin； and profited by his advice。 They devoted themselves ardently to study； and gave up almost the whole of their time to it； they enabled themselves to write French correctly； and acquired a good knowledge of history。 Italian； English； the higher branches of mathematics； turning and dialing； filled up in succession their leisure moments。 Madame Adelaide； in particular； had a most insatiable desire to learn； she was taught to play upon all instruments； from the horn （wi