, he had witnessed the full measure of their
genius. On August 17, 1661, Fouquet gave an elaborate fete to celebrate
the completion of the chateau, which the King attended. Within three
weeks the host was a prisoner of State, accused of peculation in office.
Acting immediately upon his resolution to out-do the glories of
Vaux-le-Vicomte, Louis engaged Le Notre to plan gardens and Le Vau to
submit proposals for the enlargement and decoration of the chateau. One
of the first apartments completed was the chamber of the infant
Dauphin--heir to the throne, who was born in November, 1661. Colbert
reported in September, 1663, that in two years he had spent 1,500,000
pounds, and a good part of this sum was for the construction of the
gardens. Builders and decorators suggested one elaborate project after
another, without regard to the cost, despite the protest of Colbert to
the King that they were exceeding all estimates and provisions. It was a
paradise period for profiteers.

Versailles became a favorite retreat of the extravagant young sovereign.
He frequently drove out from Paris, and on sundry occasions gave splendid
balls and dinners.

For periods of increasing frequency the King was in residence at
Versailles. He urged on the builders who had in hand the construction of
the living-rooms, kitchens, stables; he supervised the placing of
pictures and other decorative works in various parts of the expanded
chateau; impatiently he chided the superintendents for delay and
feverishly they strove to meet his demands for greater haste. And though
every hour of haste cost the King of France a substantial sum, he cared
for nothing but the fulfillment of his luxurious plans. Hundreds of
laborers were engaged in laying out the orangery, the grand terrace, the
fruit and vegetable gardens. The original entrance court was greatly
enlarged. Long wings terminated by pavilions bordered it. On the right
were the kitchens, with quarters for the domestics; on the left, the
stables, where there were stalls for fifty-four horses. At the main
entrance to the court were pavilions used by the musketeers as
guard-houses. Those were bustling times at Versailles, and every day
disclosed a new development and opened the way to new miracles of
construction.

And the miracles were wrought, one after another--all by order of the
King. On the site of the park a great terrace was bordered by a parterre
in the shape of a half-moon, where a