In examining some documents bequeathed by Comtesse de Cramont d'Aster to the National Library, one of the officials of that institution discovered _half-a-cozen notes written by Louis XIV to Mansart, the great architect, who, at that time, was superintendent of the royal palaces. The notes relate to nothing more important than domestic matters, bus, they throw considerable light on one side of the Roi Soleil's chararter. It appears from the letters and Mansart's replies that on October 1, 1691, while making arrange~ ments for the return of the Court from Versailles to Fontainebleau, Mansart went to see the apart ments reserved for Madame de Maintenon and discovered that one of the chimneys smoked, and that it was impossible to have a fire in the room without opening the win-dew. This was not at all likely to be to the taste of Madame de Maintenon, who was a notoriously chilly person and was sometimes referred to by courtiers as l'enrhumée (the woman with a cold). Mansart ae. cordingly made personal investigations, found out the cause of the trouble and wrage to his royal master that he wag superintending the repairs and hoped they would be completed before the arrival of the Court. On the margin of this report, the king wrote: "What you are doing appears satisfactory, but, to be able to praise your work, what is necessary is that the chimney shall not smoke any more, and we will see if that is the case when we arrive on Thursday; but I am glad to hear what you tell me." Thus did Louis encourage his servant and at the same time keep something in reserve: The royal approbation was too precious a thing to be bestowed all at once, and thus Louis kept back the full measure until he had seen for himself that it was deserved.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.