Produced by David Widger
The death of D'Avaux, who had formerly been our ambassador in Holland,occurred in the early part of this year (1709). D'Avaux was one of thefirst to hear of the project of William of Orange upon England, when thatproject was still only in embryo, and kept profoundly secret. Heapprised the King (Louis XIV.) of it, but was laughed at. Barillon, thenour ambassador in England, was listened to in preference. He, deceivedby Sunderland and the other perfidious ministers of James II.; assuredour Court that D'Avaux's reports were mere chimeras. It was not until itwas impossible any longer to doubt that credit was given to them. Thesteps that we then took, instead of disconcerting all the measures of theconspirators, as we could have done, did not interfere with the workingout of any one of their plans. All liberty was left, in fact, to Williamto carry out his scheme. The anecdote which explains how this happenedis so curious, that it deserves to be mentioned here.
Louvois, who was then Minister of War, was also superintendent of thebuildings. The King, who liked building, and who had cast off all hismistresses, had pulled down the little porcelain Trianon he had made forMadame de Montespan, and was rebuilding it in the form it still retains.One day he perceived, for his glance was most searching, that one windowwas a trifle narrower than the others. He showed it to Louvois, in orderthat it might be altered, which, as it was not then finished, was easy todo. Louvois sustained that the window was all right. The King insistedthen, and on the morrow also, but Louvois, pigheaded and inflated withhis authority, would not yield.
The next day the King saw Le Notre in the gallery. Although his tradewas gardens rather than houses, the King did not fail to consult him uponthe latter. He asked him if he had been to Trianon. Le Notre repliedthat he had not. The King ordered him to go. On the morrow he saw LeNotre again; same question, same answer. The King comprehended thereason of this, and a little annoyed, commanded him to be there thatafternoon at a given time. Le Notre did not dare to disobey this time.The King arrived, and Louvois being present, they returned to the subjectof the window, which Louvois obstinately said was as broad as the rest.The King wished Le Notre to measure it, for he knew that, upright andtrue, he would openly say what he found. Louvois, piqued, grew angry.The King, who was not less so, allowed him to say his say. Le Notre,meanwhile, did not stir. At last, the King made him go, Louvois stillgrumbling, and maintaining his assertion with audacity and littlemeasure. Le Notre measured the window, and said that the King was rightby several inches. Louvois still wished to argue, but the King silencedhim, and commanded him to see that the window was altered at once,contrary to custom abusing him most harshly.
What annoyed Louvois most was, that this scene passed not only before allthe officers of the buildings, but in presence of all who followed theKing in his promenades, nobles, courtiers, officers of the guard, andothers, even all the rolete. The dressing given to Louvois was smart andlong, mixed with reflections upon the fault of this window, which, notnoticed so soon, might have spoiled all the facade, and compelled it tobe re-built.
Louvois, who was not accustomed to be thus treated, returned home infury, and like a man in despair. His familiars we