Note 156 — LETTERS TO MADAME DE GRIGNAN[11] FROM 1671 TO 1690. (continued 4)

M. de Méri had known and loved Madame de Maintenon from her infancy. He had brought her out into the world under the name of the Young Indian. He cultivated her friendship in all circumstances. But what is singular is, that he would have married her, and that he made her the offer of his hand at the very time that Louis thought of making her his wife. The letters of M. de Méri, which were found in Madame de Maintenon’s collection, were indeed emphatic, heavy, and pedantic, and well deserved the name “pitiful style” (chien de style).