world for beauty, wit, and perfection of all kinds.  I always compare her to Narcissus, who died of self-admiration.  She is so vain as to think she has more sense than her husband, who has a great deal; while her notions are not in the slightest degree elevated.  She lives much in the femme-de-chambre style; and, indeed, loves this society better than that of persons of birth.  The ladies are often a week together without seeing her; for without being summoned they cannot approach her.  She does not know how to live as the wife of a prince should, having been educated like the daughter of a citizen.  A long time had elapsed before she and her younger brother were legitimated by the King; I do not know for what reason.

[This legitimation presented great difficulties during the life of the Marquis de Montespan.  M. Achille de Harlai, Procureur-General du Parliament, helped to remove them by having the Chevalier de Longueville, son of the Duke of that name and of the Marechale de la Feste, recognized without naming his mother.  This once done, the children of the King and of Madame de Montespan were legitimated in the same manner.]

When they arrived at Court their conversation was exactly like that of the common people.

In my opinion my son’s wife has no charms at all; her physiognomy does not please me.  I don’t know whether my son loves her much, but I know she does what she pleases with him.  The populace and the femmes de chambre are fond of her; but she is not liked elsewhere.  She often goes to the Salut at the Quinze Vingts; and her women are ordered to say that. she is a saint, who suffers my son to be surrounded by mistresses without complaining.  This secures the pity of the populace and makes her pass for one of the best of wives, while, in fact; she is, like her elder brother, full of artifice.

She is very superstitious.  Some years ago a nun of Fontevrault, called Madame de Boitar, died.  Whenever Madame d’Orleans loses anything she promises to this nun prayers for the redemption of her soul from purgatory, and then does not doubt that she shall find what she has lost.  She piques herself upon being extremely pious; but does not consider lying and deceit are the works of the Devil and not of God.  Ambition, pride and selfishness have entirely spoilt her.  I fear she will not make a good end.  That I may live in peace I seem to shut my eyes to these things.  My son often, in allusion to her pride, calls her Madame Lucifer.  She is not backward in believing everything complimentary that is said to her.  Montespan, old Maintenon, and all the femmes de chambre have made her believe that she did my son honour in marrying him; and she is so vain of her own birth and that of her brothers and sisters that she will not hear a word said against them; she will not see any difference between legitimate and illegitimate children.