Maxim 132 “I am expecting an important message from Paris this evening.” On her way to bed after the celebration that night, Madame de Montespan addressed the guard who stood outside the door of her apartments in the château. “It will come by messenger on horseback. Please make certain that he will be allowed to pass by the gate, sometime around midnight, I believe.” The guard bowed and walked to another guard a little farther along the corridor, who then walked to the next one and so on until the message reached the sergeant who was posted to keep watch over the main gate. By the time it arrived at its destination, Madame de Montespan was in her bed, drifting off to sleep. Satisfying to be able to help an insignificant person and harm her most detested rival at the same time, she thought, as she let herself sink into the luxurious comfort of silk sheets and goose down pillows. Besides, she was almost certain she was pregnant again. And Louis was becoming more and more fond of the children they had together.
