nourrir les enfans qui naitroient de leur union; mais cependant elle aura lieu,
quelque chose qu'on en puisse dire.« - WRAXALL'S History of France, vol. i.p.
143, note.
 
24 Oliver's name, or nickname, was Le Diable, which was bestowed on him by
public hatred, in exchange for Le Daim, or Le Dain. He was originally the King's
barber, but afterwards a favourite counsellor.
 
25 Dr. Dryasdust here remarks, that cards, said to have been invented in a
preceding reign, for the amusement of Charles V. during the intervals of his
mental disorder, seem speedily to have become common among the courtiers, since
they already furnished Louis XI. with a metaphor. The same proverb was quoted by
Durandarte, in the enchanted cave of Montesinos. The alleged origin of the
invention of cards, produced one of the shrewdest replies I have ever heard
given in evidence. It was made by the late Dr. Gregory of Edinburgh to a counsel
of great eminence at the Scottish Bar. The Doctor's testimony went to prove the
insanity of the party whose mental capacity was the point at issue. On a
cross-interrogation, he admitted that the person in question played admirably at
whist. »And do you seriously say, doctor,« said the learned counsel, »that a
person having a superior capacity for a game so difficult, and which requires in
a pre-eminent degree, memory, judgment, and combination, can be at the same time
deranged in his understanding?« - »I am no card-player,« said the doctor, with
great address, »but I have read in history that cards were invented for the
amusement of an insane king.« The consequences of this reply were decisive.
 
26 Here the King touches on the very purpose for which he pressed on the match
with such tyrannic severity, which was, that as the Princess's personal
deformity admitted little chance of its being fruitful, the branch of Orleans,
which was next in succession to the crown, might be, by the want of heirs,
weakened or extinguished. In a letter to the Comte de Dammarten, Louis, speaking
of his daughter's match, says, »Qu'ils n'auroient pas beaucoup d'embarras à
nourrir les enfans qui naitroient de leur union; mais cependant elle aura lieu,
quelque chose qu'on en puisse dire.« - WRAXALL'S History of France, vol. i.p.
143, note.
 
27 A friendly, though unknown