Louis was delighted with this comedy; although it had been Mazarin’s deplorable policy to leave his higher intelligence and taste so little cultivated, these were naturally capable of appreciating the wit and humour of Molière’s work, and it formed a shield of protection against the dramatist’s many bitter enemies. The king gave him a pension from his own private purse, and Molière was an honoured guest at his table. The money accruing from his own labour, alone brought competence. He had a country house at Auteuil, where he entertained many distinguished persons, and found a little rest from the arduous demands of his profession. The Prince de Condé also took great delight in his society. Many a munificent act to youthful or struggling efforts of genius the popular and admired dramatist and comedian performed in secret, and ever without ostentation. Perhaps but for him Racine would never have been heard of. The poet was nineteen when Molière encouraged him to carry through his _Thêagène et Chariclée_, a piece too weak for stage production, but for which Molière made him a present of a hundred louis, and further gave him the scenario for _Les Frères Ennemis_. The actor Baron was another star in the dramatic firmament owing its brilliancy to Molière. Baron, like Garrick, excelled in both tragedy and comedy; and Molière loved him as if he had been his own son. One day Baron pleaded with him for a poor country actor, who wanted enough money to take him to rejoin his troupe. He was an old fellow-comedian of Molière’s; his name was Mondorge. “How much does he require?” asked Molière. Baron thought four pistoles would meet the case. “Give him four pistoles from me then,” said Molière, “and here are twenty besides, which you can say are from you.” To this he added a handsome suit of clothes; and in such ways shone the worth of the actor-dramatist in a naughty world. It was Molière who exclaimed—“_Où la vertu, va-t’-elle se nicher?_” one day, when he gave alms to some poor creature, and the man, finding it to be a louis d’or, thought that it had been given in mistake, and ran after him to give it back.