The Day of a King

Retiring
When supper was finished, the King went into his bedroom and stood for a few minutes leaning against the balustrade which shut in his bed, where he received the curtseys of the ladies; when all had thus bidden him good night, Louis made his world-famous bow, gave the parole and countersign to the guard, and passed into his private room, where the family awaited him.

Having said his prayers, the King arose and glanced around the circle to select the recipient of the most distinguished favor of the day, that of holding the candlestick which had up to this been in the keeping of the Almoner. The lucky courtier singled out received the candle-stick from the First Valet de Chambre, and had the privilege of holding it for the remainder of the coucher (laying to bed). Louis then undressed and dismissed his Court with a bow. Was he relieved to know that only the ceremony of the petit coucher separated him from his bed? We don't know, but may at least suspect that the petit coucher was one of the more tiresome ordeals of the day. For it was then that those who had the entrée were entitled to speak confidentially to the King, and he knew by long experience that a courtier's confidences would most certainly take the form of an application for money or money's worth. And let it be remembered to Louis' credit that to every petitioner he listened with patience, kindliness, and an obvious desire to master the substance of the petition.

The petit coucher closed with a ceremony which only the inner circle of the elect witnessed, and which is too characteristic of the age to be passed over in silence; Louis has now got himself into his nightshirt and dressing gown, and is installed on his chaise percée. Happy the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber, who for a trifling outlay of some 15,000 louis d'or apiece have the honor and pleasure of assisting at this performance every night of their lives. A happiness marred only by the fact that the business is a mere formality; for the King is fort honnête, and puts himself in this posture at the coucher, not from necessity, but as part of the nightly ritual.

The cup of pleasure is now drained to the dregs, the lights begin to go out, another Versailles day is over; and as the great clock booms the stroke of half-past one, the courtier may start climbing the stairs to his bed.