Part 22 (2/2)

CHAPTER LI

Madame de Maintenon's Character--The Queen Likes Her--She Revisits Her Family--Her Grandfather's Papers Restored to Her

As Mada, as I have already stated, he allotted her handso until he could keep her there as a fixture, by conferring upon her so presented to the Queen, who paid her a thousand co so candid and so good natured as to say:

”You would have been just the person to educate Monseigneur”

Unwilling to appear as if she slighted the Dauphin's actual tutors, Madame de Maintenon adroitly replied that, as it seeel

It is said that I have special talent for sustaining and enlivening a conversation; there is so in that, I admit, but to do her justice, I must say that in this respect Madame de Maintenon is without a rival

She has quite a wealth of invention; the most arid subject in her hands becomes attractive; while for transitions, her skill is unequalled Far sile glance

And as, since her misfortunes, her rule has been never toone's path, she is careful never to utter anything which could irritate the feelings or wound the pride of the most sensitive Her descriptions are so varied, so vivacious, that they fascinate a whole crowd If now and again some little touch of irony escapes her, she kno to temper and even instantly to neutralise this by teruise of an extree and tact of a states likes to talk about matters of State when she is present He rarely did this with me

I think she is at the outset of a successful career The King ard to her whole faovernorshi+p upon the Cone, her brother, and the Marquis de la Gallerie, their cousin, has just received the coiment, and a pension

Madaood fortune to myself I also saw one of her letters to Madaratitude So withwhat she dares to term my conduct; however, this is only to my face I have always liked her, and in spite of her affronts, I like her still; but there are times when I am less tolerant, and then we are like two persons just about to fall out

The Comte de Toulouse and Mademoiselle de Blois were not entrusted to her at their birth as the others were The King thought that the additional responsibility of their education would prove too great for the Marquise

He preferred to enjoy her society and conversation, so est children were placed in the care of Madareat compliment, as I take it

When, for the second tie, she returned by way of the Landes, Guienne, and Poitou She wished to revisit her native place, and show her pupil to all her relations Perceiving that she was a h favour, they were lavish of their coive her back her property

Knowing that she was a trifle vain about her noble birth, they ree, as well as a most precious manuscript

These papers, found to be quite correct, included a ue, written by Baron Agrippa d'Aubigne, who ainst the Leaguers for over fifteen years A found certain details that hitherto had been forgotten, or had never yet coht

And as the Baron was Henri IV's favourite aide-deca is of importance and interest

This manuscript, in the sioverness's ancestors I am sure she was more concerned about this document than about her property

CHAPTER LII

The Young Flee of the Sepulchres

Just at the ti occurred, which deserves to be chronicled Another episode loomier nature