DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

Ca} placed on her relations with the men who belonged to her circle. Even among those friends, whom she loaded with kindness and gifts, many turned against her. One of them, the Duc de Lauzun, one day wore in his hat a splendid white heron’s feather, which excited the admiration of the queen. The duke sent her the feather, and though she did not like to accept such a present, she could not bring herself to refuse his offer, and wore the feather on one occasion. The duke lost his head; and, presuming on the queen’s familiarity and his own infatuation, fell on his knees and made her a declaration. He was turned out of the palace at once, and afterwards became one of her bitterest enemies. The king and queen often spent their evenings in the private apartments of Madame de Polignac at Versailles, and the presence of His Majesty acted as a damper upon the gaiety of the young | people. This led to the adoption of an undignified | stratagem. It was the king’s habit to retire early to bed, and, in order to accelerate his departure, the hands of the clock were put on. By shutting his eyes to the follies of a wife whom he worshipped, the king became an instrument of her unpopularity, and the exposer of his own weakness. It was customary at the accession of every king to impose a special tax for him and his consort—a tax which