When she returned with her children into her sitting-room, she said there was still an unavoidable expense to be incurred; that assuredly many mothers would at that season think as she did,--that the toyman must lose by it; and therefore she gave him fifty Louis to repay him for the cost of his journey, and console him for having sold nothing.
The purchase of St.Cloud, a matter very simple in itself, had, on account of the prevailing spirit, unfavourable consequences to the Queen.
The palace of Versailles, pulled to pieces in the interior by a variety of new arrangements, and mutilated in point of uniformity by the removal of the ambassadors' staircase, and of the peristyle of columns placed at the end of the marble court, was equally in want of substantial and ornamental repair.

The King therefore desired M.Micque to lay before him several plans for the repairs of the palace.

He consulted me on certain arrangements analogous to some of those adopted in the Queen's establishment, and in my presence asked M.Micque how much money would be wanted for the execution of the whole work, and how many years he would be in completing it.

I forget how many millions were mentioned: M.Micque replied that six years would be sufficient time if the Treasury made the necessary periodical advances without any delay.

"And how many years shall you require," said the King, "if the advances are not punctually made ?"--"Ten, Sire," replied the architect.