not know where my son found him; he is a good sort of person, but he has neither elegance nor beauty.  It is a great pity that the Abbe is illegitimate:  he is well made; his features are not bad; he has very good talents, and has studied much.—­[Duclos says that this ‘eleve’ of the Jesuits was, nevertheless, the most zealous ignoramus that ever their school produced.]—­He is a good deal like the portraits of the late Monsieur in his youth, only that he is bigger.  When he stands near Mademoiselle de Valois it is easy to see that they belong to the same father.  My son purchased for the Chevalier d’Orleans the office of General of the Galleys from the Marechal de Tasse.  He intends to make him a Knight of Malta, so that he may live unmarried, for my son does not wish to have the illegitimate branches of his family extended.  The Chevalier does not want wit; but he is a little satirical, a habit which he takes from his mother.

My son will not recognize the Abbe Saint-Albin, on account of the irregular life which his mother, La Florence, has led.  He fears being laughed at for acknowledging children so different.  The Abbe Dubois was a chief cause, too, why my son would not acknowledge this son.  It was because the Abbe, aspiring to the Cardinal’s hat, was jealous of every one who might be a competitor with him.  I love this Abbe Saint-Albin, in the first place, because he is attached to me, and, in the second, because he is really very clever; he has wit and sense, with none of the mummery of priests.  My son does not esteem him half so much as he deserves, for he is one of the best persons in the world; he is pious and virtuous, learned in every point, and not vain.  It is in vain for my son to deny him; any one may see of what race he comes, and I am sorry that he is not legitimated.  My son is much more fond of Seri’s Son.

The poor Abbe de Saint-Albin is grieved to death at not being acknowledged; while Fortune smiles upon his elder brother, he is forgotten, despised, and has no rank; he seeks only to be legitimated.  I console him as well as I can; but why should I tease my son about the business?

[The Abbe de Saint-Albin was appointed Bishop of Laon, and, after Dubois’ death, Archbishop of Cambrai.  When he wished to become a member of the Parliament he could not give the names either of his father or mother; he had been baptized in the name of Cauche, the Regent’s valet de chambre and purveyor.]

It would only put him in the way of greater inconveniences, for, as he has also several children by Parabere, she would be no less desirous that he should legitimate hers.  This consideration ties my tongue.