Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 6 | Page 5

managed so well that M. le Duc served alone at the altar at the King's
communion, no Duke being called upon to come and join him. The
surprise at this was very great. The Duc de la Force and the Marechal
de Boufflers, who ought to have served, were both present. I wrote to
this last to say that such a thing had never happened before, and that it
was contrary to all precedent. I wrote, too, to M. d'Orleans, who was
then in Spain, informing him of the circumstance. When he returned he
complained to the King. But the King merely said that the Dukes ought
to have presented themselves and taken hold of the cloth. But how
could they have done so, without being requested, as was customary, to
come forward? What would the king have thought of them if they had?
To conclude, nothing could be made of the matter, and it remained thus.
Never then, since that time, did I go to the communions of the King.
An incident occurred at Marly about the same time, which made much
stir. The ladies who were invited to Marly had the privilege of dining
with the King. Tables were placed for them, and they took up positions
according to their rank. The non-titled ladies had also their special
place. It so happened one day; that Madame de Torcy (an untitled lady)
placed herself above the Duchesse de Duras, who arrived at table a
moment after her. Madame de Torcy offered to give up her place, but it
was a little late, and the offer passed away in compliments. The King
entered, and put himself at table. As soon as he sat down, he saw the
place Madame de Torcy had taken, and fixed such a serious and

surprised look upon her, that she again offered to give up her place to
the Duchesse de Duras; but the offer was again declined. All through
the dinner the King scarcely ever took his eyes off Madame de Torcy,
said hardly a word, and bore a look of anger that rendered everybody
very attentive, and even troubled the Duchesse de Duras.
Upon rising from the table, the King passed, according to custom, into
the apartments of Madame de Maintenon, followed by the Princesses of
the blood, who grouped themselves around him upon stools; the others
who entered, kept at a distance. Almost before he had seated himself in
his chair, he said to Madame de Maintenon, that he had just been
witness of an act of "incredible insolence" (that was the term he used)
which had thrown him into such a rage that he had been unable to eat:
that such an enterprise would have been insupportable in a woman of
the highest quality; but coming, as it did, from a mere bourgeoise, it
had so affected him, that ten times he had been upon the point of
making her leave the table, and that he was only restrained by
consideration for her husband. After this outbreak he made a long
discourse upon the genealogy of Madame de Torcy's family, and other
matters; and then, to the astonishment of all present, grew as angry as
ever against Madame de Torcy. He went off then into a discourse upon
the dignity of the Dukes, and in conclusion, he charged the Princesses
to tell Madame de Torcy to what extent he had found her conduct
impertinent. The Princesses looked at each other, and not one seemed
to like this commission; whereupon the King, growing more angry, said;
that it must be undertaken however, and left the robes; The news of
what had taken place, and of the King's choler, soon spread all over the
Court. It was believed, however, that all was over, and that no more
would be heard of the matter. Yet the very same evening the King
broke out again with even more bitterness than before. On the morrow,
too, surprise was great indeed, when it was found that the King,
immediately after dinner, could talk of nothing but this subject, and that,
too, without any softening of tone. At last he was assured that Madame
de Torcy had been spoken to, and this appeased him a little. Torcy was
obliged to write him a letter, apologising for the fault of Madame de
Torcy; and the King at this grew content. It may be imagined what a
sensation this adventure produced all through the Court.

While upon the subject of the King, let me relate an anecdote of him,
which should have found a place ere this. When M. d'Orleans was
about to start for Spain, he named the officers who were to be of his
suite. Amongst others was Fontpertius. At that name the King put on a
serious look.
"What!