92 rilE GARDEXS OF ITALY. 
Less beautiful than Hortense, afterwards Duchess of Mazarin, Maria was clever, spiriiuelle 
and fascinating in no ordinary degree. Beginning by being thin and brown, her looks 
improved, and a miniature by Mignard represents her with large, sparkling dark eyes, crisp, 
curling black hair, an espiegJe expression, and exquisite shoulders, exposed in the daring 
fashion of the day. 
Louis XIV fell in love with her. He had at first been attracted bv her sister Olympe, but after 
the former became Comtesse de Soissons in 1657 his continued visits to the Comtesse were really 
prompted by his growing affection for Maria. The young girl’s influence over the young King 
became daily stronger. She was even then one of the most cultivated women of the time, and 
she made him read and share all her tastes and ideas. They met continually in the easiest 
102. — THE LOWER TERRACE. 
manner. In Paris she was foremost in all the most brilliant fetes, the King always at her side, 
and when he was seized with a dangerous illness in camp the following summer, her anxiety 
and affection could not be concealed. During his convalescence they rode and walked for hours 
together, and Maria, who had been described in memoirs of the day as hardie et rude, became 
soft and gav as everyone tried to please her, and burnt incense before the rising star. It was 
in the midst of her happv dream that the Cardinal and Queen-mother urged on the King an 
alliance with the House of Savov. With a very ill grace the King allowed a non-committing 
meeting with the Duchess of Savoy and her daughter to be arranged at Lyons, and Maria rode 
with the Court. The meeting had no result, and all could see the reason. That was Maria’s 
hour of triumph. The King never left her. He rode by her side, himself saw to the choice 
