occasion; there is certainly no need to despair," said Madame de Sevigne,
"though one does not happen to be his valet; it may happen that, whilst
paying one's court, one will find one's self underneath what he showers
around. One thing is certain, and that is, that away from him all
services go for nothing; it used to be the contrary." All the court were
of the same opinion as Madame de Sevigne.

A new power was beginning to appear on the horizon, with such modesty and
backwardness that none could as yet discern it, least of all could the
king. Madame de Montespan had looked out for some one to take care of
and educate her children. She had thought of Madame Scarron; she
considered her clever; she was so herself, "in that unique style which
was peculiar to the Mortemarts," said the Duke of St. Simon; she was fond
of conversation; Madame Scarron had a reputation of being rather a
blue-stocking; this the king did not like; Madame de Montespan had her
way; Madame Scarron took charge of the children secretly and in an
isolated house. She was attentive, careful, sensible. The king was
struck with her devotion to the children intrusted to her. "She can
love," he said; "it would be a pleasure to be loved by her." The
confidence of Madame de Montespan went on increasing. "The person of
quality (Madame de Montespan) has no partnership with the person who has
a cold (Madame Scarron), for she regards her as the confidential person;
the lady who is at the head of all (the queen) does the same; she is,
therefore, the soul of this court," writes Madame de Sevigne in 1680.
There were, however, frequent storms; Madame de Montespan was jealous and
haughty, and she grew uneasy at the nascent liking she observed in the
king for the correct and shrewd judgment, the equable and firm temper, of
his children's governess. The favor of which she was the object did not
come from Madame de Montespan. The king had made the Parliament
legitimatize the Duke of Maine, Mdlle. de Nantes, and the Count of Vexin;