Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 4 | Page 9

not yet
know of the Duchess's letter to the Cardinal, nor of the other measures
she has taken for the purpose of decorating her husband's brows.
Madame du Maine will eventually become really crazy, for she is
dreadfully troubled with the vapours. Her mother has entreated my son
to let her daughter be brought to her house at Anet, where she will be
answerable for her conduct and suffer her to speak with no one.
My son replied, "that if Madame du Maine had only conspired against
his life, he would have pardoned her with all his heart; but that, as her
offence had been committed against the State, he was obliged, in spite
of himself, to keep her in prison."
It is not true that the Duc du Maine has permission to hunt; he is only
allowed to ride upon a hired horse round the citadel, to take the air, in
the company of four persons.
The Abbe de Maulevrier and Mademoiselle de Langeron persuaded the
Princess that Madame du Maine was at the point of death, and was only
desirous of seeing her dear mother before she expired, to receive her
last benediction, as she should die innocent. The Princess immediately
set out in great anxiety and with deep grief; but was strangely surprised,
on arriving at her daughter's house, to see her come to meet her in very
good health. Mademoiselle de Langeron said that the Duchess

concealed her illness that she might not make her mother unhappy.
After the confession which Madame du Maine thought proper to make,
which she has confirmed by writing, my son has set her at liberty, and
has permitted her to come to Sceaux. She is terribly mortified at her
letter being read in the open Council. As she has declared in her
confession that she had done everything without her husband's
knowledge, although in his name, he, too, has been permitted to return
to his estate of Chavigny, near Versailles.
Madame du Maine had written to my son that, in the event of her
having omitted anything in her declaration, he would only have to ask
Mademoiselle de Launay about it. He sent in consequence for that lady,
to ask her some questions. Mademoiselle de Launay replied: "I do not
know whether her imprisonment may have turned my mistress's brain,
but it has not had the same effect upon me; I neither know, nor will I
say anything."
Madame du Maine had gained over certain gentlemen in all the
Provinces, and had tampered with them to induce them to revolt; but
none of them would swallow the bait excepting in Brittany.
She has not been at the theatre yet; meaning, by this, to intimate that
she is still afflicted at lying under her husband's displeasure. It is said
that she has written to him, but that he has returned her letter unopened.
She came some days ago to see my son, and to request him not to
oppose a reconciliation between herself and her husband. My son
laughed and said, "I will not interfere in it; for have I not learned from
Sganarelle that it is not wise to put one's finger between the bark and
the tree?" The town says they will be reconciled. If this really should
take place, I shall say as my father used: "Agree together, bad ones!"
My son tells me that the little Duchess has again besought him to
reconcile her with her husband. My son replied, "that it depended much
more upon herself than upon him." I do not know whether she took this
for a compliment, or what crotchet she got in her head, but she
suddenly jumped up from the sofa, and clung about my son's neck,
kissing him on both cheeks in spite of himself (18th June, 1720).
The Duc du Maine is entirely reconciled to his dear moiety. I am not
surprised, for I have been long expecting it.

SECTION XL.

LOUVOIS
M. de Louvois was a person of a very wicked disposition; he hated his
father and brother, and, as they were my very good friends, this
minister made me feel his dislike of them. His hatred was also
increased, because he knew that I was acquainted with his ill-treatment
of my father, and that I had no reason in the world to like him. He
feared that I should seek to take vengeance upon him, and for this
reason he was always exciting the King against me. Upon this point
alone did he agree with that old, Maintenon.
I believe that Louvois had a share in the conspiracy by which Langhans
and Winkler compassed my poor brother's death. When the King had
taken the Palatinate, I required him to arrest the culprits; the King gave
orders for it,