[119] The game of mail was universally popular in France in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was a form of golf, played with a long-handled mallet and a wooden ball, and was sometimes called palemail (cp. our Pall Mall) from pila and malleus. It is still played at Montpellier (see Jusserand, pp. 304-314).
[120] Marie-Françoise d’Albert, a daughter of the Duc de Chevreuse, and wife of the Marquis, afterwards Duc de Levis.
[121] See [Introduction].
[122] The Marquise d’O, née Guilleragues, dame du palais to the Duchesse de Bourgogne. “Elle avoit beaucoup d’esprit, plaisante, complaisante, toute à tous et amusante.” For her husband see above, p. 73, [n. 112].
[123] A light meal which took the place of supper on fast-days. Readers of Pascal will recollect how in the fifth Provincial Letter the friendly Jesuit relieves the writer of the duty of fasting, if he could not sleep without a proper supper.
[124] Apparently a provincial form of gésier = gizzard.
[125] At one time lady-in-waiting to Madame, who calls her “la pauvre Doudon,” and her husband “a monster.” He was, says Saint-Simon (XIV. 123), “un homme fort laid et fort contrefait, qui avec beaucoup d’esprit et de valeur, avoit toujours mené la vie la plus obscure et la plus débauchée.” She was a daughter of the Maréchale de La Mothe (see above, p. 77, [n. 117]).
[126] See [Introduction]
[127] The Marquis de Cavoye, without birth or intelligence, rose to a position of high consideration at the Court. “Without the court,” says Saint-Simon, “he was like a fish out of water.” He fought several duels, in spite of the edicts against duelling, and was known as “le brave Cavoye.” For his career and marriage see I. 299-302.
[128] Ed. Chéruel, III. 37-40; ed. Boislisle, VIII. 349-355.