Memoirs of Louis XIV and His Court and of the Regency — Volume 05

The memoir opens with a vivid snapshot of court life in the later years of Louis XIV, marking the deaths of two well‑known figures and turning to a striking anecdote from a long hunting party near Saint‑Germain. After losing their way in the dark, a group of courtiers stumbles upon a modest castle owned by a retired gentleman, Fargues, who welcomes them with unexpected generosity—warm shelter, fine food and wine, and personal attention for each guest. Their gratitude blossoms into high praise that quickly reaches the king, who is surprised to learn that such a hospitable man lives so close to the royal residence.

The narrative then shifts to the political undercurrents that swirl around Fargues, a former participant in the turbulent Parisian rebellions and a beneficiary of the royal amnesty. The king and the queen‑mother, uneasy that he enjoys comfort near the court, enlist the ambitious chief president Lamoignon to dig up a past misdeed that might justify punishment. As Lamoignon’s inquiry gains momentum, the story teeters on the brink of a looming confrontation between personal loyalty and the relentless machinations of absolute power.