The mother, witnessing the distress of her child, succeeded in withdrawing her from Madame de Neuillant, and placing her in a convent. Here the Ursuline nuns won her over to the Catholic faith. Proud of their convert, who was remarkably intelligent and attractive, they kept her for a year. But as neither Madame de Neuillant, from whom she had been removed, nor Madame de Vilette, who dreaded her return to Romanism, would pay her board, they refused to give her any longer a shelter. Francoise left the convent, and joined her mother only in time to see her sink in sorrow to the grave. She was thus left, at fourteen years of age, in utter destitution, dependent upon charity for support. CHAPTER VIII. MADAME DE MAINTENON. 1649-1685 Beauty and intelligence of Francoise--Francoise d'Aubigne and the poet Scarron.--Scarron's proposal of marriage.--Marriage of Francoise d'Aubigne.--Becomes a governess.--Elevation of Madame Scarron.--Personal appearance of Madame de Maintenon.--Portrait of Ann of Austria.--The Princess of Tuscany.--Unhappiness of the dauphiness.--Louis's providence for his children.--Mademoiselle de Blois.--Marriage of Mademoiselle de Blois.--The man with the iron mask.--Measures adopted to prevent discovery.--Madame de Montespan and her son.--Mary Angelica Roussille.--Intrigue of Madame de Montespan.--Display of the Duchess de Fontanges.--A quarrel.--Virtuous endeavors of Madame de Maintenon.--Madame de Maintenon's efforts unsuccessful.--Sickness and distress of the Duchess de Fontanges.--Death of the Duchess de Fontanges.--Madame de Montespan rejoices.--Supremacy of Madame de Maintenon.--Pere la Chaise.--Remorse of Louis.--Degradation of the people.--Birth of the Duke of Burgoyne.--Louis taken ill.--Dismissal of Madame de Montespan.--Resolves to build a convent.--Her great wealth.--The convent of St. Joseph completed.--The king recovers, and goes to Flanders.--Return to Versailles.--Political ambition of Louis XIV.--Sickness and death of the queen, Maria Theresa.--Tribute to her worth.--Masses.--Versailles.--Heartlessness of the king and of the courtiers.--Accident.--Death of the minister of finance.--Ingratitude.--Remarkable condescension on the part of Louis.--Genoa assailed.--Capture.--The Doge humbled.