"I do not want to hear anything more about him," said he, when the king's letter was brought to him; "now, at any rate, let him leave me alone." His thoughts were occupied with his soul's salvation.

Madame de Maintenon used to accuse him of always thinking about his finances, and very little about religion.

He repeated bitterly, as the dying Cardinal Wolsey had previously said in the case of Henry, "If I had done for God what I have done for that man, I had been saved twice over; and now I know not what will become of me." He expired on the 6th of September, 1683; and on the 10th, Madame de Maintenon wrote to Madame de St.Geran, "The king is very well; he feels no more now than a slight sorrow.

The death of M.de Colbert afflicted him, and a great many people rejoiced at that affliction.

It is all stuff about the pernicious designs he had; and the king very cordially forgave him for having determined to die without reading his letter, in order to be better able to give his thoughts to God.