"Yes, monsieur, he received the holy sacraments.

But do you know what he did in order to receive them?
He put on his uniform as gentleman-in-ordinary of the Bedchamber, with all his orders, and had himself powdered; they tied his queue (that poor queue!) with a fresh ribbon.

Now I say that none but a man of remarkable character would have his queue tied with a fresh ribbon just as he was dying.

There are eight of us here, and I don't believe one among us is capable of such an act.
But that's not all; he said,--for you know all celebrated men make a dying speech; he said,--stop now, what did he say?
Ah! he said, 'I must attire myself to meet the King of Heaven,--I, who have so often dressed in my best for audience with the kings of earth.' That's how Monsieur de la Billardiere departed this life.

He took upon himself to justify the saying of Pythagoras, 'No man is known until he dies.'" Colleville [rushing in].