1902, J. Boïelle in Les Misérables, William and Norgate; sixth edition, page #73:
La ruelle du lit is the space, especially in alcôves, between the wall and the bed on either side. Les ruelles in Louis the Fourteenth’s time was said of the alcôves of certain ladies of quality called précieuses because of the affectation of their language and their literary pretensions.
1935, John Campbell Major, The Role of Personal Memoirs in English Biography and Novel; page #32:
These notes are marvellously brilliant shafts of light illuminating the private life of seventeenth century society ; even the sometimes lurid beams reveal in a fascinating manner the gossipy literary alcôves.
