[49] This habitual answer of Louis is referred to by several contemporary writers. Madame tells a good story about it (Corr. I. 169).
[50] Emmanuel-Théodore de La Tour d’Auvergne (1644-1715). See for his biography and portrait XI. 94-102. He was a nephew of Turenne.
[51] Louis-François, Marquis and afterwards Duc de Boufflers (1644-1711), distinguished himself at Fleurus and Steinkirk. His defence of Lille against the allied troops (1708) was the admiration of all Europe. His brilliant charge at Malplaquet (1709) saved the retreat of the French army from becoming a rout. He was a friend of Saint-Simon, who had a great admiration for him. See his portrait, IX. 92-94.
[52] Louis-Hector, Marquis and then Duc de Villars (1653-1734), was the best French general in the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1712 he gained a notable victory over the allies at Denain. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him (III. 322-327) shews strong prejudice. It should be corrected by the judicial estimate of Sainte-Beuve, who devoted five causeries to him (Caus. du Lundi, XIII).
[53] See above, p. 6, [n. 24]. The statue which represented Louis XIV trampling on a three-headed Cerberus (symbolical of the triple alliance) was made by the Dutch sculptor Martin Desjardins (Van den Bogaart). The “pagan” ceremony of dedication took place on March 28, 1686.
[54] During the last twenty-seven years of his reign (1688-1715) Louis only visited Paris five times.
[55] Anne of Austria died January 19, 1666.
[56] For Versailles see L. Dussieux, Le château de Versailles, vol. I. 1881; P. de Nolhac, La création de Versailles, 1901; A. Pératé, Versailles (Les villes d’art célèbres).
[57] See [Appendix A].
[58] Jérôme Phélypeaux, Comte de Pontchartrain (1674-1747), was associated with his father in the ministry of La Marine et la Maison du Roi in his nineteenth year, succeeding him when he became Chancellor in 1699. His administration was deplorable. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him is as life-like as it is unflattering (Mém. IV. 194-5; IX. 10-13).