VOLUME 10.
CHAPTER LXX
Character and Position of the Duc d'Orleans—His Manners, Talents, and
Virtues.—His Weakness.—Anecdote Illustrative Thereof.—
The "Debonnaire"—Adventure of the Grand Prieur in England.—Education
of the Duc d'Orleans.—Character of Dubois.—His Pernicious Influence.—
The Duke's Emptiness.—His Deceit.—His Love of Painting.—The Fairies at
His Birth.—The Duke's Timidity.—An Instance of His Mistrustfulness.
CHAPTER LXXI
The Duke Tries to Raise the Devil.—Magical Experiments.—His Religious Opinions.—Impiety.—Reads Rabelais at Church.—The Duchesse d'Orleans.— Her Character.—Her Life with Her Husband.—My Discourses with the Duke on the Future.—My Plans of Government.—A Place at Choice Offered Me.— I Decline the Honour.—My Reason.—National Bankruptcy.—The Duke's Anger at My Refusal.—A Final Decision.
CHAPTER LXXII
The King's Health Declines.—Bets about His Death.—Lord Stair.—My New
Friend.—The King's Last Hunt.—And Last Domestic and Public Acts.—
Doctors.—Opium.—The King's Diet.—Failure of His Strength.—His Hopes
of Recovery.—Increased Danger.—Codicil to His Will.—Interview with the
Duc d'Orleans.—With the Cardinal de Noailles.—Address to His
Attendants.—The Dauphin Brought to Him.—His Last Words.—
An Extraordinary Physician.—The Courtiers and the Duc d'Orleans.—
Conduct of Madame de Maintenon.—The King's Death.
CHAPTER LXXIII
Early Life of Louis XIV.—His Education.—His Enormous Vanity.—His
Ignorance.—Cause of the War with Holland.—His Mistakes and Weakness in
War.—The Ruin of France.—Origin of Versailles.—The King's Love of
Adulation, and Jealousy of People Who Came Not to Court.—His Spies.—
His Vindictiveness.—Opening of Letters.—Confidence Sometimes Placed in
Him—A Lady in a Predicament.