No one was a more faithful friend than Marie Leczinska. The little circle amidst which she lived displayed as much affection as respect for her. After supper she went almost every evening to the apartment of the Duchess de Luynes, her lady of honor. There she met, besides the Duke and Duchess, Cardinal de Luynes, the Duke and Duchess de Chevreuse, and President Hénault. This was a time of recreation and pleasant talk. The learned president shone there by his wit. One day he offered the Queen the manuscript of his Abrégé chronologique. She returned it with the following words: “I think that M. Hénault, who says so many things in so few words, can hardly like the language of women who talk so much to say so little.” In lieu of signature, she had written: Devinez qui (Guess who). The gallant author replied at once:—
“Ces mots tracés par une main divine
Ne peuvent me causer que trouble et qu’embarras.
C’est trop oser si mon cœur les devine;
C’est être ingrat que ne deviner pas.”[59]
Another time, Fontenelle, then ninety-two years old, had addressed these verses to the President:—
“Il fallait n’être vieux qu’à Sparte,
Disent les anciens écrits.
Grand Dieu! combien je m’en écarte,
Moi qui suis si vieux dans Paris.