Then it dawned upon me that I was king, and was born to be." A taste for order and regularity was natural to Louis XIV., and he soon made it apparent in his councils.

"Under Cardinal Mazarin, there was literally nothing but disorder and confusion; he had the council held whilst he was being shaved and dressed, without ever giving anybody a seat, not even the chancellor or Marshal Villeroy, and he was often chattering with his linnet and his monkey all the time he was being talked to about business.

After Mazarin's death the king's council assumed a more decent form.

The king alone was seated, all the others remained standing, the chancellor leaned against the bedrail, and M.de Lionne upon the edge of the chimney-piece.

He who was making a report placed himself opposite the king, and, if he had to write, sat down on a stool which was at the end of the table where there was a writing-desk and paper." [_Histoire de France,_ by Le P.