should be heard in the sick room. In both interviews he was
gracious, friendly, and even tender. But he carefully abstained
from saying anything about the future position of the family
which was about to lose its head. Indeed he could say nothing,
for he had not yet made up his own mind. Soon, however, it became
necessary for him to form some resolution. On the sixteenth
James sank into a stupor which indicated the near approach of
death. While he lay in this helpless state, Madame de Maintenon
visited his consort. To this visit many persons who were likely
to be well informed attributed a long series of great events. We
cannot wonder that a woman should have been moved to pity by the
misery of a woman; that a devout Roman Catholic should have taken
a deep interest in the fate of a family persecuted, as she
conceived, solely for being Roman Catholics; or that the pride of
the widow of Scarron should have been intensely gratified by the
supplications of a daughter of Este and a Queen of England. From
mixed motives, probably, the wife of Lewis promised her powerful
protection to the wife of James.

Madame de Maintenon was just leaving Saint Germains when, on the
brow of the hill which overlooks the valley of the Seine, she met
her husband, who had come to ask after his guest. It was probable
at this moment that he was persuaded to form a resolution, of
which neither he nor she by whom he was governed foresaw the
consequences. Before he announced that resolution, however, he
observed all the decent forms of deliberation. A council was held
that evening at Marli, and was attended by the princes of the
blood and by the ministers of state. The question was propounded,
whether, when God should take James the Second of England to
himself, France should recognise the Pretender as King James the