"Why," replied the Queen, "if the poor whom you have succoured for the past twenty years had each placed a single candle in their windows it would have been the most beautiful illumination ever witnessed." The Queen did not limit her kindness to friendly words.

There was frequently seen in the apartments of Versailles a veteran captain of the grenadiers of France, called the Chevalier d'Orville, who for four years had been soliciting from the Minister of War the post of major, or of King's lieutenant.

He was known to be very poor; but he supported his lot without complaining of this vexatious delay in rewarding his honourable services.

He regularly attended the Marechal de Segur, at the hour appointed for receiving the numerous solicitations in his department.

One day the Marshal said to him: "You are still at Versailles, M.
d'Orville ?"--"Monsieur," he replied, "you may observe that by this board of the flooring where I regularly place myself; it is already worn down several lines by the weight of my body." The Queen frequently stood at the window of her bedchamber to observe with her glass the people walking in the park.