after the death of her patron, mme de grieu, poverty compelled her to enter the household of the duchesse du maine at the château de sceaux in the capacity of lady-in-waiting. her literary talent soon manifested itself in the literary court of the duchesse, and secured for her, among other friendships, the somewhat undesirable admiration of the abbé chaulieu. the duchesse is said, on the somewhat dubious authority of her lady-in-waiting, to have been not a little jealous of her attendant. enough, however, is known of the duchesse's imperious and capricious temper to make it improbable that her service was agreeable. mlle de launay, however, enjoyed a large share of her mistress' confidence and had a considerable share in drawing up the "mémoire des princes légitimes" which demanded the meeting of the states-general.