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diff --git a/old/mcg2w10.txt b/old/mcg2w10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e51ca1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mcg2w10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1939 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Ebook Memoirs of Count Grammont, v2, by Hamilton +#2 in our series by Anthony Hamilton, Edited by Sir Walter Scott + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers***** + + +Title: The Memoirs of Count Grammont, Volume 2. + +Author: Anthony Hamilton (Edited by Sir Walter Scott) + +Release Date: April, 2004 [EBook #5410] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on July 12, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + + + + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GRAMMONT, V2, BY HAMILTON *** + + + +This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + +[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the +file for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making an +entire meal of them. D.W.] + + + + + + MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, VOLUME 2. + + By Anthony Hamilton + + EDITED, WITH NOTES, BY SIR WALTER SCOTT + + + + + CHAPTER FOURTH. + + HIS ARRIVAL AT THE COURT OF TURIN, + AND HOW HE SPENT HIS TIME THERE. + + +Military glory is at most but one half of the accomplishments which +distinguish heroes. Love must give the finishing stroke, and adorn their +character by the difficulties they encounter, the temerity of their +enterprises, and finally, by the lustre of success. We have examples of +this, not only in romances, but also in the genuine histories of the most +famous warriors and the most celebrated conquerors. + +The Chevalier de Grammont and Matta, who did not think much of these +examples, were, however, of opinion, that it would be very agreeable to +refresh themselves after the fatigues of the siege of Trino, by forming +some other sieges, at the expense of the beauties and the husbands of +Turin. As the campaign had finished early, they thought they should have +time to perform some exploits before the bad weather obliged them to +repass the mountains. + +They sallied forth, therefore, not unlike Amadis de Gaul or Don Galaor +after they had been dubbed knights, eager in their search after +adventures in love, war and enchantments. They were greatly superior to +those two brothers, who only knew how to cleave in twain giants, to break +lances, and to carry off fair damsels behind them on horseback, without +saying a single word to them; whereas our heroes were adepts at cards and +dice, of which the others were totally ignorant. + +They went to Turin, met with an agreeable reception, and were greatly +distinguished at court. Could it be otherwise? They were young and +handsome; they had wit at command, and spent their money liberally. In +what country will not a man succeed, possessing such advantages? As +Turin was at that time the seat of gallantry and of love, two strangers +of this description, who were always cheerful, brisk and lively, could +not fail to please the ladies of the court. + +Though the men of Turin were extremely handsome, they were not, however, +possessed of the art of pleasing. They treated their wives with respect, +and were courteous to strangers. Their wives, still more handsome, were +full as courteous to strangers, and less respectful to their husbands. + +Madame Royale, a worthy daughter of Henry IV., rendered her little court +the most agreeable in the world. She inherited such of her father's +virtues as compose the proper ornament of her sex; and with regard to +what are termed the foibles of great souls, her highness had in no wise +degenerated. + +The Count de Tanes was her prime minister. It was not difficult to +conduct affairs of state during his administration. No complaints were +alleged against him; and the princess, satisfied with his conduct +herself, was, above all, glad to have her choice approved by her whole +court, where people lived nearly according to the manners and customs of +ancient chivalry. + +The ladies had each a professed lover, for fashion's sake, besides +volunteers, whose numbers were unlimited. The declared admirers wore +their mistresses' liveries, their arms, and sometimes even took their +names. Their office was, never to quit them in public, and never to +approach them in private; to be their squires upon all occasions, and, +in jousts and tournaments, to adorn their lances, their housings, and +their coats, with the cyphers and the colours of their dulcineas. + +Matta was far from being averse to gallantry; but would have liked it +more simple than as it was practised at Turin. The ordinary forms would +not have disgusted him; but he found here a sort of superstition in the +ceremonies and worship of love, which he thought very inconsistent: +however, as he had submitted his conduct in that matter to the direction +of the Chevalier de Grammont, he was obliged to follow his example, and +to conform to the customs of the country. + +They enlisted themselves at the same time in the service of two beauties, +whose former squires gave them up immediately from motives of politeness. +The Chevalier de Grammont chose Mademoiselle de Saint-Germain, and told +Matta to offer his services to Madame de Senantes. Matta consented, +though he liked the other better; but the Chevalier de Grammont persuaded +him that Madame de Senantes was more suitable for him. As he had reaped +advantage from the Chevalier's talents in the first projects they had +formed, he resolved to follow his instructions in love, as he had done +his advice in play. + +Mademoiselle de Saint-Germain was in the bloom of youth; her eyes were +small, but very bright and sparkling, and, like her hair, were black; her +complexion was lively and clear, though not fair: she, had an agreeable +mouth, two fine rows of teeth, a neck as handsome as one could wish, and +a most delightful shape; she had a particular elegance in her elbows, +which, however, she did not show to advantage; her hands were rather +large and not very white; her feet, though not of the smallest, were well +shaped; she trusted to Providence, and used no art to set off those +graces which she had received from nature; but, notwithstanding her +negligence in the embellishment of her charms, there was something so +lively in her person, that the Chevalier de Grammont was caught at first +sight; her wit and humour corresponded with her other qualities, being +quite easy and perfectly charming; she was all mirth, all life, all +complaisance and politeness, and all was natural, and always the same +without any variation. + +The Marchioness de Senantes was esteemed fair, and she might have +enjoyed, if she had pleased, the reputation of having red hair, had she +not rather chosen to conform to the taste of the age in which she lived +than to follow that of the ancients: she had all the advantages of red +hair without any of the inconveniences; a constant attention to her +person served as a corrective to the natural defects of her complexion. +After all, what does it signify, whether cleanliness be owing to nature +or to art? it argues an invidious temper to be very inquisitive about +it. She had a great deal of wit, a good memory, more reading, and a +still greater inclination towards tenderness. + +She had a husband whom it would have been criminal even in chastity to +spare. He piqued himself upon being a Stoic, and gloried in being +slovenly and disgusting in honour of his profession. In this he +succeeded to admiration; for he was very fat, so that he perspired almost +as much in winter as in summer. Erudition and brutality seemed to be the +most conspicuous features of his character, and were displayed in his +conversation, sometimes together, sometimes alternately, but always +disagreeably: he was not jealous, and yet he was troublesome; he was very +well pleased to see attentions paid to his wife, provided more were paid +to him. + +As soon as our adventurers had declared themselves, the Chevalier de +Grammont arrayed himself in green habiliments, and dressed Matta in blue, +these being the favourite colours of their new mistresses. They entered +immediately upon duty: the Chevalier learned and practised all the +ceremonies of this species of gallantry, as if he always had been +accustomed to them; but Matta commonly forgot one half, and was not over +perfect in practising the other. He never could remember that his office +was to promote the glory, and not the interest, of his mistress. + +The Duchess of Savoy gave the very next day an entertainment at La +Venerie, where all the ladies were invited. + +The Chevalier was so agreeable and diverting, that he made his mistress +almost die with laughing. Matta, in leading his lady to the coach, +squeezed her hand, and at their return from the promenade he begged +of her to pity his sufferings. Thus was proceeding rather too +precipitately, and although Madame de Senantes was not destitute of the +natural compassion of her sex, she nevertheless was shocked at the +familiarity of this treatment; she thought herself obliged to show some +degree of resentment, and pulling away her hand, which he had pressed +with still greater fervency upon this declaration, she went up to the +royal apartments without even looking at her new lover. Matta, never +thinking that he had offended her, suffered her to go, and went in search +of some company to sup with him: nothing was more easy for a man of his +disposition; he soon found what he wanted, sat a long time at table to +refresh himself after the fatigue, of love, and went to bed completely +satisfied that he had performed his part to perfection. + +During all this time the Chevalier de Grammont acquitted himself towards +Mademoiselle de Saint Germain with universal applause; and without +remitting his assiduities, he found means to shine, as they went along, +in the relation of a thousand entertaining anecdotes, which he introduced +in the general conversation. Her Royal Highness heard them with +pleasure, and the solitary Senantes likewise attended to them. He +perceived this, and quitted his mistress to inquire what she had done +with Matta. + +"I" said she, "I have done nothing with him; but I don't know what he +would have done with me if I had been obliging enough to listen to his +most humble solicitations." + +She then told him in what manner his friend had treated her the very +second day of their acquaintance. + +The Chevalier could not forbear laughing at it: he told her Matta was +rather too unceremonious, but yet she would like him better as their +intimacy more improved, and for her consolation he assured her that he +would have spoken in the same manner to her Royal Highness herself; +however, he would not fail to give him a severe reprimand. He went the +next morning into his room for that purpose; but Matta had gone out early +in the morning on a shooting party, in which he had been engaged by his +supper companions in the preceding evening. At his return he took a +brace of partridges and went to his mistress. Being asked whether he +wished to see the Marquis, he said no; and the Swiss telling him his lady +was not at home, he left his partridges, and desired him to present them +to his mistress from him. + +The Marchioness was at her toilet, and was decorating her head with all +the grace she could devise to captivate Matta, at the moment he was +denied admittance: she knew nothing of the matter; but her husband knew +every particular. He had taken it in dudgeon that the first visit was +not paid to him, and as he was resolved that it should not be paid to his +wife, the Swiss had received his orders, and had almost been beaten for +receiving the present which had been left. The partridges, however, were +immediately sent back, and Matta, without examining into the cause, was +glad to have them again. He went to court without ever changing his +clothes, or in the least considering he ought not to appear there without +his lady's colours. He found her becomingly dressed; her eyes appeared +to him more than usually sparkling, and her whole person altogether +divine. He began from that day to be much pleased with himself for his +complaisance to the Chevalier de Grammont; however, he could not help +remarking that she looked but coldly upon him. This appeared to him a +very extraordinary return for his services, and, imagining that she was +unmindful of her weighty obligations to him, he entered into conversation +with her, and severely reprimanded her for having sent back his +partridges with so much indifference. + +She did not understand what he meant; and highly offended that he did not +apologize, after the reprimand which she concluded him to have received, +told him that he certainly had met with ladies of very complying +dispositions in his travels, as he seemed to give to himself airs that +she was by no means accustomed to endure. Matta desired to know wherein +he could be said to have given himself any. "Wherein?" said she: "the +second day that you honoured me with your attentions, you treated me as +if I had been your humble servant for a thousand years; the first time +that I gave you my hand you squeezed it as violently as you were able. +After this commencement of your courtship, I got into my coach, and you +mounted your horse; but instead of riding by the side of the coach, as +any reasonable gallant would have done, no sooner did a hare start from +her form, than you immediately galloped full speed after her; having +regaled yourself, during the promenade, by taking snuff, without ever +deigning to bestow a thought on me, the only proof you gave me, on your +return, that you recollected me, was by soliciting me to surrender my +reputation in terms polite enough, but very explicit. And now you talk +to me of having been shooting of partridges and of some visit or other, +which, I suppose, you have been dreaming of, as well as of all the rest." + +The Chevalier de Grammont now advanced, to the interruption of this +whimsical dialogue. Matta was rebuked for his forwardness, and his +friend took abundant pains to convince him that his conduct bordered more +upon insolence than familiarity. Matta endeavoured to exculpate himself, +but succeeded ill. His mistress took compassion upon him, and consented +to admit his excuses, for the manner, rather than his repentance for the +fact, and declared that it was the intention alone which could either +justify or condemn, in such cases; that it was very easy to pardon those +transgressions which arise from excess of tenderness, but not such as +proceeded from too great a presumption of success. Matta swore that he +only squeezed her hand from the violence of his passion, and that he had +been driven, by necessity, to ask her to relieve it; that he was yet a +novice in the arts of solicitation; that he could not possibly think her +more worthy of his affection, after a month's service, than at the +present moment; and that he entreated her to cast away an occasional +thought upon him when her leisure admitted. The Marchioness was not +offended, she saw very well that she must require an implicit conformity +to the established rule of decorum, when she had to deal with such a +character; and the Chevalier de Grammont, after this sort of +reconciliation, went to look after his own affair with Mademoiselle de +St. Germain. + +His concern was not the offspring of mere good nature, nay, it was the +reverse; for no sooner did he perceive that the Marchioness looked with +an eye of favour upon him, than this conquest, appearing to him to be +more easy than the other, he thought it was prudent to take advantage of +it, for fear of losing the opportunity, and that he might not have spent +all his time to no purpose, in case he should prove unsuccessful with the +little St. Germain. + +In the mean time, in order to maintain that authority which he had +usurped over the conduct of his friend, he, that very evening, +notwithstanding what had been already said, reprimanded him for presuming +to appear at court in his morning suit, and without his mistress's badge; +for not having had the wit or prudence to pay his first visit to the +Marquis de Senantes, instead of consuming his time, to no purpose, in +inquiries for the lady; and, to conclude, he asked him what the devil he +meant by presenting her with a brace of miserable red partridges. "And +why not?" said Matta: "ought they to have been blue, too, to match the +cockade and sword-knots you made me wear the other day? Plague not me +with your nonsensical whimsies: my life on it, in one fortnight your +equal in foppery and folly will not be found throughout the confines of +Turin; but, to reply to your questions, I did not call upon Monsieur de +Senantes, because I had nothing to do with him, and because he is of a +species of animals which I dislike, and always shall dislike: as for you, +you appear quite charmed with being decked out in green ribands, with +writing letters to your mistress, and filling your pockets with citrons, +pistachios, and such sort of stuff, with which you are always cramming +the poor girl's mouth, in spite of her teeth: you hope to succeed by +chanting ditties composed in the days of Corisande and of Henry IV., +which you will swear yourself have made upon her: happy in practising the +ceremonials of gallantry, you have no ambition for the essentials. Very +well: every one has a particular way of acting, as well as a particular +taste: your's is to trifle in love; and, provided you can make +Mademoiselle de St. Germain laugh, you are satisfied: as for my part, I +am persuaded, that women here are made of the same materials as in other +places; and I do not think that they can be mightily offended, if one +sometimes leaves off trifling, to come to the point: however, if the +Marchioness is not of this way of thinking, she may e'en provide herself +elsewhere; for I can assure her, that I shall not long act the part of +her squire." + +This was an unnecessary menace; for the Marchioness in reality liked him +very well, was nearly of the same way of thinking herself, and wished for +nothing more than to put his gallantry to the test. But Matta proceeded +upon a wrong plan; he had conceived such an aversion for her husband, +that he could not prevail upon himself to make the smallest advance +towards his good graces. He was given to understand that he ought to +begin by endeavouring to lull the dragon to sleep, before he could gain +possession of the treasure; but this was all to no purpose, though, at +the same time, he could never see his mistress but in public. This made +him impatient, and as he was lamenting his ill-fortune to her one day: +"Have the goodness, madam," said he, "to let me know where you live: +there is never a day that I do not call upon you, at least, three or four +times, without ever being blessed with a sight of you." "I generally +sleep at home," replied she, laughing; "but I must tell you, that you +will never find me there, if you do not first pay a visit to the Marquis: +I am not mistress of the house. I do not tell you," continued she, "that +he is a man whose acquaintance any one would very impatiently covet +for his conversation: on the contrary, I agree that his humour is +fantastical, and his manners not of the pleasing cast; but there is +nothing so savage and inhuman, which a little care, attention, and +complaisance may not tame into docility. I must repeat to you some +verses upon the subject: I have got them by heart, because they contain a +little advice, which you may accommodate, if you please, to your own +case." + + RONDEAU. + + Keep in mind these maxims rare, + You who hope to win the fair; + Who are, or would esteemed be, + The quintessence of gallantry. + + That fopp'ry, grinning, and grimace, + And fertile store of common-place; + That oaths as false as dicers swear, + And Wry teeth, and scented hair; + That trinkets, and the pride of dress, + Can only give your scheme success. + Keep in mind. + + Has thy charmer e'er an aunt? + Then learn the rules of woman's cant, + And forge a tale, and swear you read it, + Such as, save woman, none would credit + Win o'er her confidante and pages + By gold, for this a golden age is; + And should it be her wayward fate, + To be encumbered with a mate, + A dull, old dotard should he be, + That dulness claims thy courtesy. + Keep in mind. + +"Truly," said Matta, "the song may say what it pleases, but I cannot put +it in practice: your husband is far too exquisite a monster for me. Why, +what a plaguey odd ceremony do you require of us in this country, if we +cannot pay our compliments to the wife without being in love with the +husband!" + +The Marchioness was much offended at this answer; and as she thought she +had done enough in pointing out to him the path which would conduct him +to success, if he had deserved it, she did not think it worth while to +enter into any farther explanation; since he refused to cede, for her +salve, so trilling an objection: from this instant she resolved to have +done with him. + +The Chevalier de Grammont had taken leave of his mistress nearly at the +same time: the ardour of his pursuit was extinguished. It was not that +Mademoiselle de Saint Germain was less worthy than hitherto of his +attentions: on the contrary her attractions visibly increased: she +retired to her pillow with a thousand charms, and ever rose from it with +additional beauty the phrase of increasing in beauty as she increased in +years seemed to have been purposely made for her. The Chevalier could +not deny these truths, but yet he could not find his account in them: a +little less merit, with a little less discretion, would have been more +agreeable. He perceived that she attended to him with pleasure, that +she was diverted with his stories as much as he could wish, and that +she received his billets and presents without scruple; but then he +also discovered that she did not wish to proceed any farther. He had +exhausted every species of address upon her, and all to no purpose: her +attendant was gained: her family, charmed with the music of his +conversation and his great attention, were never happy without him: in +short, he had reduced to practice the advice contained in the +Marchioness's song, and everything conspired to deliver the little Saint +Germain into his hands, if the little Saint Germain had herself been +willing: but alas! she was not inclined. It was in vain he told her the +favour he desired would cost her nothing; and that since these treasures +were rarely comprised in the fortune a lady brings with her in marriage, +she would never find any person, who, by unremitting tenderness, +unwearied attachment, and inviolable secrecy, would prove more worthy of +them than himself. He then told her no husband was ever able to convey +a proper idea of the sweets of love, and that nothing could be more +different than the passionate fondness of a lover, always tender, always +affectionate, yet always respectful, and the careless indifference of a +husband. + +Mademoiselle de Saint Germain, not wishing to take the matter in a +serious light, that she might not be forced to resent it, answered, that +since it was generally the custom in her country to marry, she thought it +was right to conform to it, without entering into the knowledge of those +distinctions, and those marvellous particulars, which she did not very +well understand, and of which she did not wish to have any further +explanation; that she had submitted to listen to him this one time, but +desired he would never speak to her again in the same strain, since such +sort of conversation was neither entertaining to her, nor could be +serviceable to him. Though no one was ever more facetious than +Mademoiselle de Saint Germain, she yet knew how to assume a very serious +air, when ever occasion required it. The Chevalier de Grammont soon saw +that she was in earnest; and finding it would cost him a great deal of +time to effect a change in her sentiments, he was so far cooled in this +pursuit, that he only made use of it to hide the designs he had upon the +Marchioness de Senantes. + +He found this lady much disgusted at Matta's want of complaisance; and +his seeming contempt for her erased every favourable impression which +she had once entertained for him. While she was in this humour, the +Chevalier told her that her resentment was just; he exaggerated the loss +which his friend had sustained; he told her that her charms were a +thousand times superior to those of the little Saint Germain, and +requested that favour for himself which his friend did not deserve. He +was soon favourably heard upon this topic; and as soon as they were +agreed, they consulted upon two measures necessary to be taken, the one +to deceive her husband, the other his friend, which was not very +difficult: Matta was not at all suspicious: and the stupid Senantes, +towards whom the Chevalier had already behaved as Matta had refused to +do, could not be easy without him. This was much more than was wanted; +for as soon as ever the Chevalier was with the Marchioness, her husband +immediately joined them out of politeness; and on no account would have +left them alone together, for fear they should grow weary of each other +without him. + +Matta, who all this time was entirely ignorant that he was disgraced, +continued to serve his mistress in his own way. She had agreed with the +Chevalier de Grammont, that to all appearance everything should be +carried on as before; so that the court always believed that the +Marchioness only thought of Matta, and that the Chevalier was entirely +devoted to Mademoiselle de Saint Germain. + +There were very frequently little lotteries for trinkets: the Chevalier +de Grammont always tried his fortune, and was sometimes fortunate; and +under pretence of the prizes he had won, he bought a thousand things +which he indiscreetly gave to the Marchioness, and which she still more +indiscreetly accepted: the little Saint Germain very seldom received any +thing. There are meddling whisperers everywhere: remarks were made upon +these proceedings; and the same person that made them communicated them +likewise to Mademoiselle de Saint Germain. She pretended to laugh, but +in reality was piqued. It is a maxim religiously observed by the fair +sex, to envy each other those indulgences which themselves refuse. She +took this very ill of the Marchioness. On the other hand, Matta was +asked if he was not old enough to make his own presents himself to the +Marchioness de Senantes, without sending them by the Chevalier de +Grammont. This roused him; for of himself, he would never have perceived +it: his suspicions, however, were but slight, and he was willing to have +them removed. "I must confess," said he to the Chevalier de Grammont, +"that they make love here quite in a new style; a man serves here without +reward: he addresses himself to the husband when he is in love with the +wife, and makes presents to another man's mistress, to get into the good +graces of his own. The Marchioness is much obliged to you for -----" + +"It is you who are obliged," replied the Chevalier, "since thus was done +on your account: I was ashamed to find you had never yet thought of +presenting her with any trifling token of your attention: do you know +that the people of this court have such extraordinary notions, as to +think that it is rather owing to inadvertency that you never yet have had +the spirit to make your mistress the smallest present? For shame! how +ridiculous it is, that you can never think for yourself?" + +Matta took this rebuke, without making any answer, being persuaded that +he had in some measure deserved it: besides, he was neither sufficiently +jealous, nor sufficiently amorous, to think any more of it; however, as +it was necessary for the Chevalier's affairs that Matta should be +acquainted with the Marquis de Senantes, he plagued him so much about it, +that at last he complied. His friend introduced him, and his mistress +seemed pleased with this proof of complaisance, though she was resolved +that he should gain nothing by it; and the husband, being gratified with +a piece of civility which he had long expected, determined, that very +evening, to give them a supper at a little country seat of his, on the +banks of the river, very near the city. + +The Chevalier de Grammont answering for them both, accepted the offer; +and as this was the only one Matta would not have refused from the +Marquis, he likewise consented. The Marquis came to convey them in his +carriage at the hour appointed; but he found only Matta. The Chevalier +had engaged himself to play, on purpose that they might go without him: +Matta was for waiting for him, so great was his fear of being left alone +with the Marquis; but the Chevalier having sent to desire them to go on +before, and that he would be with them as soon as he had finished his +game, poor Matta was obliged to set out with the man who, of all the +world, was most offensive to him. It was not the Chevalier's intention +quickly to extricate Matta out of this embarrassment: he no sooner knew +that they were gone, than he waited on the Marchioness, under pretence of +still finding her husband, that they might all go together to supper. + +The plot was in a fair way; and as the Marchioness was of opinion that +Matta's indifference merited no better treatment from her, she made no +scruple of acting her part in it: she therefore waited for the Chevalier +de Grammont with intentions so much the more favourable, as she had for +a long time expected him, and had some curiosity to receive a visit from +him in the absence of her husband. We may therefore suppose that this +first opportunity would not have been lost, if Mademoiselle de Saint +Germain had not unexpectedly come in, almost at the same time with the +Chevalier. + +She was more handsome and more entertaining that day than she had ever +been before; however, she appeared to them very ugly and very tiresome: +she soon perceived that her company was disagreeable, and being +determined that they should not be out of humour with her for nothing, +after having passed above a long half hour in diverting herself with +their uneasiness, and in playing a thousand monkey tricks, which she +plainly saw could never be more unseasonable, she pulled off her hood, +scarf, and all that part of her dress which ladies lay aside, when in a +familiar manner they intend to pass the day anywhere. The Chevalier de +Grammont cursed her in his heart, while she continued to torment him for +being in such ill-humour in such good company: at last the Marchioness, +who was as much vexed as he was, said rather drily that she was obliged +to wait on her Royal Highness: Mademoiselle de Saint Germain told her +that she would have the honour to accompany her, if it would not be +disagreeable: she took not the smallest notice of her offer; and the +Chevalier, finding that it would be entirely useless to prolong his visit +at that time, retired with a good grace. + +As soon as he had left the house, he sent one of his scouts to desire the +Marquis to sit down to table with his company without waiting for him, +because the game might not perhaps be finished as soon as he expected, +but that he would be with him before supper was over. Having despatched +this messenger, he placed a sentinel at the Marchioness's door, in hopes +that the tedious Saint Germain might go out before her; but this was in +vain, for his spy came and told him, after an hour's impatience and +suspense, that they were gone out together. He found there was no chance +of seeing her again that day, everything falling out contrary to his +wishes; he was forced therefore to leave the Marchioness, and go in quest +of the Marquis. + +While these things were going on in the city, Matta was not much diverted +in the country: as he was prejudiced against the Marquis, all that he +said displeased him: he cursed the Chevalier heartily for the tete-a-tete +which he had procured him; and he was upon the point of going away, when +he found that he was to sit down to supper without any other company. + +However, as his host was very choice in his entertainments, and had the +best wine and the best cook in all Piedmont, the sight of the first +course appeased him; and eating most voraciously, without paying any +attention to the Marquis, he flattered himself that the supper would +end without any dispute; but he was mistaken. + +When the Chevalier de Grammont was at first endeavouring to bring +about an intercourse between the Marquis and Matta, he had given a very +advantageous character of the latter, to make the former more desirous of +his acquaintance; and in the display of a thousand other accomplishments, +knowing what an infatuation the Marquis had for the very name of +erudition, he assured him that Matta was one of the most learned men in +Europe. + +The Marquis, therefore, from the moment they sat down to supper, had +expected some stroke of learning from Matta, to bring his own into play; +but he was much out in his reckoning; no one had read less, no one +thought less, and no one had ever spoken so little at an entertainment as +he had done as he did not wish to enter into conversation, he opened his +mouth only to eat, or ask for wine. + +The other, being offended at a silence which appeared to him affected, +and wearied with having uselessly attacked him upon other subjects, +thought he might get something out of him by changing the discourse of +love and gallantry; and therefore, to begin the subject, he accosted him +in this manner: + +"Since you are my wife's gallant--" "I!" said Matta who wished to carry +it discreetly: "those who told you so, told a damned lie." "Zounds, +sir," said the Marquis, "you speak in a tone which does not at all become +you; for I would have you to know, notwithstanding your contemptuous +airs, that the Marchioness de Senantes is perhaps as worthy of your +attentions as any of your French ladies, and that I have known some +greatly your superiors, who have thought it an honour to serve her." +"Very well," said Matta, "I think she is very deserving, and since you +insist upon it, I am her servant and gallant, to oblige you." + +"You think, perhaps," continued the other, "that the same custom prevails +in this country as in your own, and that the ladies have lovers, with no +other intentions than to grant them favours: undeceive yourself if you +please, and know, likewise, that even if such events were frequent in +this court, I should not be at all uneasy." "Nothing can be more civil," +said Matta; "but wherefore would you not?" "I will tell you why," +replied he: "I am well acquainted with the affection my wife entertains +for me: I am acquainted with her discretion towards all the world; and, +what is more, I am acquainted with my own merit." + +"You have a most uncommon acquaintance then," replied Matta; +"I congratulate you upon it; I have the honour to drink it in a bumper." +The Marquis pledged him; but seeing that the conversation dropped on +their ceasing to drink, after two or three healths, he wished to make a +second attempt, and attack Matta on his strong side, that is to say, on +his learning. + +He desired him, therefore, to tell him, at what time he thought the +Allobroges came to settle in Piedmont. Matta, who wished him and his +Allobroges at the devil, said, that it must be in the time of the civil +wars. "I doubt that," said the other. "Just as you like," said Matta. +"Under what consulate?" replied the Marquis: "Under that of the League," +said Matta, "when the Guises brought the Lansquenets into France; but +what the devil does that signify?" + +The Marquis was tolerably warm, and naturally savage, so that God knows +how the conversation would have ended, if the Chevalier de Grammont had +not unexpectedly come in to appease them. It was some time before he +could find out what their debate was; for the one had forgotten the +questions, and the other the answers, which had disobliged him, in order +to reproach the Chevalier with his eternal passion for play, which made +him always uncertain. The Chevalier, who knew that he was still more +culpable than they thought, bore it all with patience, and condemned +himself more than they desired: this appeased them; and the entertainment +ended with greater tranquillity than it had begun. The conversation was +again reduced to order; but he could not enliven it as he usually did. +He was in very ill humour, and as he pressed them every minute to rise +from table, the Marquis was of opinion that he had lost a great deal. +Matta said, on the contrary, that he had won; but for want of precautions +had made perhaps an unfortunate retreat; and asked him if he had not +stood in need of Serjeant La Place, with his ambuscade. + +This piece of history was beyond the comprehension of the Marquis, and +being afraid that Matta might explain it, the Chevalier changed the +discourse, and was for rising from table; but Matta would not consent +to it. This effected a reconciliation between him and the Marquis, who +thought this was a piece of civility intended for him; however, it was +not for him, but for his wine, to which Matta had taken a prodigious +liking. + +The Duchess, who knew the character of the Marquis, was charmed with the +account which the Chevalier de Grammont gave her of the entertainment and +conversation: she sent for Matta to know the truth of it from himself: he +confessed, that before the Allobroges were mentioned the Marquis was +for quarrelling with him, because he was not in love with his wife. + +Their acquaintance having begun in this manner, all the esteem which the +Marquis had formerly expressed for the Chevalier seemed now directed +towards Matta: he went every day to pay Matta a visit, and Matta was +every day with his wife. This did not at all suit the Chevalier: he +repented of his having chid Matta, whose assiduity now interrupted all +his schemes; and the Marchioness was still more embarrassed. Whatever +wit a man may have, it will never please where his company is disliked; +and she repented that she had been formerly guilty of some trifling +advances towards him. + +Matta began to find charms in her person, and might have found the same +in her conversation, if she had been inclined to display them; but it +is impossible to be in good humour with persons who thwart our designs. +While his passion increased, the Chevalier de Grammont was solely +occupied in endeavouring to find out some method, by which he might +accomplish his intrigue; and this was the stratagem which he put in +execution to clear the coast, by removing, at one and the same time, +both the lover and the husband. + +He told Matta, that they ought to invite the Marquis to supper at their +lodgings, and he would take upon himself to provide everything proper for +the occasion. Matta desired to know if it was to play at quinze, and +assured him that he should take care to render abortive any intention he +might have to engage in play, and leave him alone with the greatest +blockhead in all Europe. The Chevalier de Grammont did not entertain any +such thought, being persuaded that it would be impossible to take +advantage of any such opportunity, in whatever manner he might take his +measures, and that they would seek for him in every corner of the city +rather than allow him the least repose: his whole attention was therefore +employed in rendering the entertainment agreeable, in finding out means +of prolonging it, in order ultimately to kindle some dispute between the +Marquis and Matta. For this purpose he put himself in the best humour in +the world, and the wine produced the same effect on the rest of the +company. + +The Chevalier de Grammont expressed his concern, that he had not been +able to give the Marquis a little concert, as he had intended in the +morning; for the musicians had been all pre-engaged. Upon this the +Marquis undertook to have them at his country-house the following +evening, and invited the same company to sup with him there. Matta asked +what the devil they wanted with music, and maintained that it was of no +use on such occasions but for women who had something to say to their +lovers, while the fiddles prevented them from being overheard, or for +fools who had nothing to say when the music ended. They ridiculed all +his arguments: the party was fixed for the next day, and the music was +voted by the majority of voices. The Marquis, to console Matta, as well +as to do honour to the entertainment, toasted a great many healths: Matta +was more ready to listen to his arguments on this topic than in a +dispute; but the Chevalier, perceiving that a little would irritate them, +desired nothing more earnestly than to see them engaged in some new +controversy. It was in vain that he had from time to time started some +subject of discourse with this intention; but having luckily thought of +asking what was his lady's maiden name, Senantes, who was a great +genealogist, as all fools are who have good memories, immediately began +by tracing out her family, by an endless confused string of lineage. The +Chevalier seemed to listen to him with great attention; and perceiving +that Matta was almost out of patience, he desired him to attend to what +the Marquis was saying, for that nothing could be more entertaining. +"All this may be very true," said Matta; "but for my part, I must +confess, if I were married, I should rather choose to inform myself who +was the real father of my children, than who were my wife's grand +fathers." The Marquis, smiling at this rudeness, did not leave off until +he had traced back the ancestors of his spouse, from line to line, as far +as Yolande de Senantes: after this he offered to prove, in less than half +an hour, that the Grammonts came originally from Spain. "Very well," +said Matta, "and pray what does it signify to us from whence the Grammonts +are descended? Do not you know, sir, that it is better to know nothing +at all, than to know too much?" + +The Marquis maintained the contrary with great warmth, and was preparing +a formal argument to prove that an ignorant man is a fool; but the +Chevalier de Grammont, who was thoroughly acquainted with Matta saw very +clearly that he would send the logician to the devil before he should +arrive at the conclusion of his syllogism: for which reason, interposing +as soon as they began to raise their voices, he told them it was +ridiculous to quarrel about an affair in itself so trivial, and treated +the matter in a serious light, that it might make the greater impression. +Thus supper terminated peaceably, owing to the care he took to suppress +all disputes, and to substitute plenty of wine in their stead. + +The next day Matta went to the chase, the Chevalier de Grammont to the +bagnio, and the Marquis to his country house. While the latter was +making the necessary preparations for his guests, not forgetting the +music, and Matta pursuing his game to get an appetite, the Chevalier was +meditating on the execution of his project. + +As soon as he had regulated his plan of operations in his own mind, he +privately sent anonymous intelligence to the officer of the guard at the +palace that the Marquis de Senantes had had some words with Monsieur de +Matta the preceding night at supper; that the one had gone out in the +morning; and the other could not be found in the city. + +Madame Royale, alarmed at this advice, immediately sent for the Chevalier +de Grammont: he appeared surprised when her highness mentioned the +affair: he confessed, indeed, that some high words had passed between +them, but that he did not believe either of them would have remembered +them the next day. He said that if no mischief had yet taken place, the +best way would be to secure them both until the morning, and that if they +could be found, he would undertake to reconcile them, and to obliterate +all grievances: in this there was no great difficulty. On inquiry at the +Marquis's they were informed that he was gone to his country-house: there +certainly he was, and there they found him; the officer put him under an +arrest, without assigning any reason for so doing, and left him in very +great surprise. + +Immediately upon Matta's return from hunting, her Royal Highness sent the +same officer to desire him to give her his word that he would not stir +out that evening. This compliment very much surprised him, more +particularly as no reason was assigned for it. He was expected at a good +entertainment he was dying with hunger, and nothing appeared to him more +unreasonable than to oblige him to stay at home, in a situation like the +present; but he had given his word, and not knowing to what this might +tend, his only resource was to send for his friend; but his friend did +not come to him until his return from the country. He had there found +the Marquis in the midst of his fiddlers, and very much vexed to find +himself a prisoner in his own house on account of Matta, whom he was +waiting for in order to feast him: he complained of him bitterly to the +Chevalier de Grammont: he said that he did not believe that he had +offended him; but that, since he was very desirous of a quarrel, he +desired the Chevalier to acquaint him, if he felt the least displeasure +on the present occasion, he should, on the very first opportunity, +receive what is called satisfaction. The Chevalier de Grammont assured +him that no such thought had ever entered the mind of Matta; that on the +contrary, he knew that he very greatly esteemed him; that all this could +alone arise from the extreme tenderness of his lady, who, being alarmed +upon the report of the servants who waited at table, must have gone to +her Royal Highness, in order to prevent any unpleasant consequences; that +he thought this the more probable, as he had often told the Marchioness, +when speaking of Matta, that he was the best swordsman in France; for, in +truth, the poor gentleman had never fought without having the misfortune +of killing his man. + +The Marquis, being a little pacified, said he was very much obliged to +him, that he would severely chide his wife for her unseasonable +tenderness, and that he was extremely desirous of again enjoying the +pleasure of his dear friend Matta's company. + +The Chevalier de Grammont assured him that he would use all his +endeavours for that purpose, and at the same time gave strict charge to +his guard not to let him escape without orders from the Court, as he +seemed fully bent upon fighting, and they would be responsible for him: +there was no occasion to say more to have him strictly watched, though +there was no necessity for it. + +One being thus safely lodged, his next step was to secure the other: he +returned immediately to town: and as soon as Matta saw him, "What the +devil," said he, "is the meaning of this farce which I am obliged to act? +for my part, I cannot understand the foolish customs of this country; how +comes it that they make me a prisoner upon my parole?" "How comes it?" +said the Chevalier de Grammont, "it is because you yourself are far more +unaccountable than all their customs; you cannot help disputing with a +peevish fellow, whom you ought only to laugh at; some officious footman +has no doubt been talking of your last night's dispute; you were seen to +go out of town in the morning, and the Marquis soon after; was not this +sufficient to make her Royal Highness think herself obliged to take these +precautions? The Marquis is in custody; they have only required your +parole; so far, therefore, from taking the affair in the sense you do, I +should send very humbly to thank her Highness for the kindness she has +manifested towards you in putting you under arrest, since it is only on +your account that she interests herself in the affair. I shall take a +walk to the palace, where I will endeavour to unravel this mystery; in +the mean time, as there is but little probability that the matter should +be settled this evening, you would do well to order supper; for I shall +come back to you immediately." + +Matta charged him not to fail to express to her Royal Highness the +grateful sense he had of her favour, though in truth he as little feared +the Marquis as he loved him; and it is impossible to express the degree +of his fortitude in stronger terms. + +The Chevalier de Grammont returned in about half an hour, with two or +three gentlemen whom Matta had got acquainted with at the chase, and who, +upon the report of the quarrel, waited upon him, and each offered him +separately his services against the unassisted and pacific Marquis. +Matta having returned them his thanks, insisted upon their staying +supper, and put on his robe de chambre. + +As soon as the Chevalier de Grammont perceived that every thing coincided +with his wishes, and that towards the end of the entertainment the toasts +went merrily round, he knew he was sure of his man till next day: then +taking him aside with the permission of the company, and making use of a +false confidence in order to disguise a real treachery, he acquainted +him, after having sworn him several times to secrecy, that he had at last +prevailed upon the little Saint Germain to grant him an interview that +night; for which reason he would take his leave, under pretence of going +to play at Court; he therefore desired him fully to satisfy the company +that he would not have left them on any other account, as the Piedmontese +are naturally mistrustful. Matta promised he would manage this point +with discretion; that he would make an apology for him, and that there +was no occasion for his personally taking leave: then, after +congratulating him upon the happy posture of his affairs, he sent him +away with all the expedition and secrecy imaginable; so great was his +fear lest his friend should lose the present opportunity. + +Matta then returned to the company, much pleased with the confidence +which had been placed in him, and with the share he had in the success of +this adventure. He put himself into the best humour imaginable in order +to divert the attention of his guests; he severely satirised those, +whose rage for gaming induced them to sacrifice to it every other +consideration; he loudly ridiculed the folly of the Chevalier upon this +article, and secretly laughed at the credulity of the Piedmontese, whom +he had deceived with so much ingenuity. + +It was late at night before the company broke up, and Matta went to bed, +very well satisfied with what he had done for his friend; and, if we may +credit appearances, this friend enjoyed the fruit of his perfidy. The +amorous Marchioness received him like one who wished to enhance the value +of the favour she bestowed; her charms were far from being neglected; and +if there are any circumstances in which we may detest the traitor while +we profit by the treason, this was not one of them; and however +successful the Chevalier de Grammont was in his intrigues, it was not +owing to him that the contrary was not believed; but, be that as it may, +being convinced that in love whatever is gained by address is gained +fairly, it does not appear that he ever showed the smallest degree of +repentance for this trick. But it is now time for its to take him from +the court of Savoy, to see him shine in that of France. + + + + + CHAPTER FIFTH. + + HE RETURNS TO THE COURT OF FRANCE--HIS ADVENTURES AT + THE SIEGE OF ARRAS--HIS REPLY TO CARDINAL MAZARIN-- + HE IS BANISHED THE COURT. + + +The Chevalier de Grammont, upon his return to France, sustained, with the +greatest success, the reputation he had acquired abroad: alert in play, +active and vigilant in love; sometimes successful, and always feared, in +his intrigues; in war alike prepared for the events of good or ill +fortune; possessing an inexhaustible fund of pleasantry in the former, +and full of expedients and dexterity in the latter. + +Zealously attached to the Prince de Conde from inclination, he was a +witness, and, if we may be allowed to say it, his companion, in the glory +he had acquired at the celebrated battles of Lens, Norlinguen, and +Fribourg; and the details he so frequently gave of them were far from +diminishing their lustre. + + [Louis of Bourbon, Duke d'Enghien, afterwards, by the death of his + father in 1656, Prince de Conde. Of this great man Cardinal de Retz + says, "He was born a general, which never happened but to Caesar, to + Spinola, and to himself. He has equalled the first: he has + surpassed the second. Intrepidity is one of the least shining + strokes in his character. Nature had formed him with a mind as + great as his courage. Fortune, in setting him out in a time of + wars, has given this last a full extent to work in: his birth, or + rather his education, in a family devoted and enslaved to the court, + has kept the first within too straight bounds. He was not taught + time enough the great and general maxims which alone are able to + form men to think always consistently. He never had time to learn + them of himself, because he was prevented from his youth, by the + great affairs that fell unexpectedly to his share, and by the + continual success he met with. This defect in him was the cause, + that with the soul in the world the least inclined to evil, he has + committed injuries; that with the heart of an Alexander, he has, + like him, had his failings; that with a wonderful understanding, he + has acted imprudently; that having all the qualities which the Duke + Francis of Guise had, he has not served the state in some occasions + so well as he ought; and that having likewise having all the + qualities of the Duke Henry of Guise, he has not carried faction so + far as he might. He could not come up to the height of his merit; + which, though it be a defect, must yet be owned to be very uncommon, + and only to be found in persons of the greatest abilities."] + +So long as he had only some scruples of conscience, and a thousand +interests to sacrifice, he quitted all to follow a man, whom strong +motives and resentments, which in some manner appeared excusable, had +withdrawn from the paths of rectitude: he adhered to him in his first +disgrace, with a constancy of which there are few examples; but he could +not submit to the injuries which he afterwards received, and which such +an inviolable attachment so little merited. Therefore, without fearing +any reproach for a conduct which sufficiently justified itself, as he had +formerly deviated from his duty by entering into the service of the +Prince de Conde, he thought he had a right to leave him to return again +to his duty. + +His peace was soon made at Court, where many, far more culpable than +himself, were immediately received into favour, when they desired it; for +the queen, still terrified at the dangers into which the civil wars had +plunged the State at the commencement of her regency, endeavoured by +lenient measures to conciliate the minds of the people. + + [Anne of Austria, daughter of Philip III. of Spain, widow of Louis + XIII., to whom she was married in 1615, and mother of Louis XIV. + She died in 1666. Cardinal de Retz speaks of her in the following + terms. "The queen had more than anybody whom I ever knew, of that + sort of wit which was necessary for her not to appear a fool to + those that did not know her. She had in her more of harshness than + haughtiness; more of haughtiness than of greatness; more of outward + appearance than reality; more regard to money than liberality; more + of liberality than of self-interest; more of self-interest than + disinterestedness: she was more tied to persons by habit than by + affection; she had more of insensibility than of cruelty; she had a + better memory for injuries than for benefits; her intention towards + piety was greater than her piety; she had in her more of obstinacy + than of firmness; and more incapacity than of all the rest which I + mentioned before." Memoirs, vol. i., p. 247.] + +The policy of the minister was neither sanguinary nor revengeful: his +favourite maxim was rather to appease the minds of the discontented by +lenity, than to have recourse to violent measures; to be content with +losing nothing by the war, without being at the expense of gaining any +advantage from the enemy; to suffer his character to be very severely +handled, provided he could amass much wealth, and to spin out the +minority to the greatest possible extent. + + [Cardinal Mazarin, who, during a few of the latter years of his + life, governed France. He died at Vincennes the 9th of March 1661, + aged 59 years, leaving as heir to his name and property the Alarquis + de la Meilleray, who married his niece, and took the title of Duke + of Mazarin. On his death, Louis XIV. and the court appeared in + mourning, an honour not common, though Henry IV. had shewn it to the + memory of Gabrielle d'Estrees. Voltaire, who appears unwilling to + ascribe much ability to the cardinal, takes an opportunity, on + occasion of his death, to make the following observation.-- + "We cannot refrain from combating the opinion, which supposes + prodigious abilities, and a genius almost divine, in those who have + governed empires with some degree of success. It is not a superior + penetration that makes statesmen; it is their character. All men, + how inconsiderable soever their share of sense may be, see their own + interest nearly alike. A citizen of Bern or Amsterdam, in this + respect, is equal to Sejanus, Ximenes, Buckingham, Richelieu, or + Mazarin; but our conduct and our enterprises depend absolutely on + our natural dispositions, and our success depends upon fortune." + Age of Louis XIV., chap. 5.] + +His avidity to heap up riches was not alone confined to the thousand +different means, with which he was furnished by his authority, and the +situation in which he was placed: his whole pursuit was gain: he was +naturally fond of gaming; but he only played to enrich himself, and +therefore, whenever he found an opportunity, he cheated. + +As he found the Chevalier de Grammont possessed a great deal of wit, and +a great deal of money, he was a man according to his wishes, and soon +became one of his set. The Chevalier soon perceived the artfulness and +dishonesty of the Cardinal, and thought it was allowable in him to put in +practice those talents which he had received from nature, not only in his +own defence, but even to attack him whenever an opportunity offered. +This would certainly be the place to mention these particulars; but who +can describe them with such ease and elegance as maybe expected by those +who have heard his own relation of them? Vain is the attempt to +endeavour to transcribe these entertaining anecdotes: their spirit seems +to evaporate upon paper; and in whatever light they are exposed the +delicacy of their colouring and their beauty is lost. + +It is, then, enough to say, that upon all occasions where address was +reciprocally employed, the Chevalier gained the advantage; and that if +he paid his court badly to the minister, he had the consolation to find, +that those who suffered themselves to be cheated, in the end gained no +great advantage from their complaisance; for they always continued in +an abject submission, while the Chevalier de Grammont, on a thousand +different occasions, never put himself under the least restraint. Of +which the following is one instance: + +The Spanish army, commanded by the Prince de Conde and the archduke,-- +[Leopold, brother of the Emperor Ferdinand the III.]--besieged Arras. +The Court was advanced as far as Peronne.--[A little bat strong town, +standing among marshes on the river Somme, in Picardy.]--The enemy, by +the capture of this place, would have procured a reputation for their +army of which they were in great need; as the French, for a considerable +time past, had evinced a superiority in every engagement. + +The Prince supported a tottering party, as far as their usual inactivity +and irresolution permitted him; but as in the events of war it is +necessary to act independently on some occasions, which, if once suffered +to escape, can never be retrieved; for want of this power it frequently +happened that his great abilities were of no avail. The Spanish infantry +had never recovered itself since the battle of Rocroy;--[This famous +battle was fought and won 19th May, 1643, five days after the death of +Louis XIII.]--and he who had ruined them by that victory, by fighting +against them, was the only man who now, by commanding their army, was +capable of repairing the mischief he had done them. But the jealousy +of the generals, and the distrust attendant upon their counsels, tied up +his hands. + +Nevertheless, the siege of Arras was vigorously carried on. + + [Voltaire observes, that it was the fortune of Turenne and Conde + to be always victorious when they fought at the head of the French, + and to be vanquished when they commanded the Spaniards. This was + Conde's fate before Arras, August 25, 1654, when he and the archduke + besieged that city. Turenne attacked them in their camp, and forced + their lines: the troops of the archduke were cut to pieces; and + Conde, with two regiments of French and Lorrainers, alone sustained + the efforts of Turenne's army; and, while the archduke was flying, + he defeated the Marshal de Hoquincourt, repulsed the Marshal de la + Ferte, and retreated victoriously himself, by covering the retreat + of the vanquished Spaniards. The king of Spain, in his letter to + him after this engagement, had these words: "I have been informed + that everything was lost, and that you have recovered everything."] + +The Cardinal was very sensible how dishonourable it would be to suffer +this place to be taken under his nose, and almost in sight of the king. +On the other hand, it was very hazardous to attempt its relief, the +Prince de Conde being a man who never neglected the smallest precaution +for the security of his lines; and if lines are attacked and not forced, +the greatest danger threatens the assailants. For, the more furious the +assault, the greater is the disorder in the retreat; and no man in the +world knew so well as the Prince de Conde how to make the best use of an +advantage. The army, commanded by Monsieur de Turenne, was considerably +weaker than that of the enemy; it was, likewise, the only resource they +had to depend upon. If this army was defeated, the loss of Arras was not +the only misfortune to be dreaded. + +The Cardinal, whose genius was happily adapted to such junctures, where +deceitful negotiations could extricate him out of difficulties, was +filled with terror at the sight of imminent danger, or of a decisive +event: he was of opinion to lay siege to some other place, the capture of +which might prove an indemnification for the loss of Arras; but Monsieur +de Turenne, who was altogether of a different opinion from the Cardinal, +resolved to march towards the enemy, and did not acquaint him with his +intentions until he was upon his march. The courier arrived in the midst +of his distress, and redoubled his apprehensions and alarms; but there +was then no remedy. + +The Marshal, whose great reputation had gained him the confidence of the +troops, had determined upon his measures before an express order from the +Court could prevent him. This was one of those occasions in which the +difficulties you encounter heighten the glory of success. Though the +general's capacity, in some measure, afforded comfort to the Court, they +nevertheless were upon the eve of an event, which in one way or other +must terminate both their hopes and their fears while the rest of the +courtiers were giving various opinions concerning the issue, the +Chevalier de Grammont determined to be an eye-witness of it; a resolution +which greatly surprised the court; for those who had seen as many actions +as he had, seemed to be exempted from such eagerness; but it was in vain +that his friends opposed his resolutions. + +The king was pleased with his intention; and the queen appeared no less +satisfied. He assured her that he would bring her good news; and she +promised to embrace him, if he was as good as his word. The Cardinal +made the same promise: to the latter, however, he did not pay much +attention; yet he believed it sincere, because the keeping of it would +cost him nothing. + +He set out in the dusk of the evening with Caseau, whom Monsieur de +Turenne had sent express to their majesties. The Duke of York, and the +Marquis d'Humieres, commanded under the Marshal: the latter was upon duty +when the Chevalier arrived, it being scarce daylight. The Duke of York +did not at first recollect him; but the Marquis d'Humieres, running to +him with open arms, "I thought," said he, "if any man came from court to +pay us a visit upon such an occasion as this, it would be the Chevalier +de Grammont. Well," continued he, "what are they doing at Peronne?" + + [Louis de Crevans, Marechal of France. He died 1694. Voltaire says + of him, that he was the first who, at the siege of Arras, in 1658, + was served in silver in the trenches, and had ragouts and entremets + served up to his table.] + +"They are in great consternation," replied the Chevalier. "And what do +they think of us?" "They think," said he, "that if you beat the Prince, +you will do no more than your duty; if you are beaten, they will think +you fools and madmen, thus to have risked everything, without considering +the consequences." "Truly," said the Marquis, "you bring us very +comfortable news. Will you now go to Monsieur de Turenne's quarters, +to acquaint him with it; or will you choose rather to repose yourself in +mine? for you have been riding post all last night, and perhaps did not +experience much rest in the preceding." "Where have you heard that the +Chevalier de Grammont had ever any occasion for sleep?" replied he: +"Only order me a horse, that I may have the honour to attend the Duke of +York; for, most likely, he is not in the field so early, except to visit +some posts." + +The advanced guard was only at cannon shot from that of the enemy. As +soon as they arrived there, "I should like," said the Chevalier de +Grammont, "to advance as far as the sentry which is posted on that +eminence: I have some friends and acquaintance in their army, whom I +should wish to inquire after: I hope the Duke of York will give me +permission." At these words he advanced. The sentry, seeing him come +forward directly to his post, stood upon his guard the Chevalier stopped +as soon as he was within shot of him. The sentry answered the sign which +was made to him, and made another to the officer, who had begun to +advance as soon as he had seen the Chevalier come forward, and was soon +up with him; but seeing the Chevalier de Grammont alone, he made no +difficulty to let him approach. He desired leave of this officer to +inquire after some relations he had in their army, and at the same time +asked if the Duke d'Arscot was at the siege. "Sir," said he, "there he +is, just alighted under those trees, which you see on the left of our +grand guard: it is hardly a minute since he was here with the Prince +d'Aremberg, his brother, the Baron de Limbec, and Louvigny." "May I see +them upon parole?" said the Chevalier. "Sir," said he, "if I were +allowed to quit my post, I would do myself the honour of accompanying you +thither; but I will send to acquaint them, that the Chevalier de Grammont +desires to speak to them:" and, after having despatched one of his guard +towards them, he returned. "Sir," said the Chevalier de Grammont, "may I +take the liberty to inquire how I came to be known to you?" "Is it +possible," said the other, "that the Chevalier de Grammont should forget +La Motte, who had the honour to serve so long in his regiment?" "What! +is it you, my good friend, La Motte? Truly, I was to blame for not +remembering you, though you are in a dress very different from that which +I first saw you in at Bruxelles, when you taught the Duchess of Guise to +dance the triolets: and I am afraid your affairs are not in so +flourishing a condition as they were the campaign after I had given you +the company you mention." They were talking in this manner, when the +Duke d'Arscot, followed by the gentlemen above mentioned, came up on +full gallop. The Chevalier de Grammont was saluted by the whole company +before he could say a word. Soon after arrived an immense number of +others of his acquaintance, with many people, out of curiosity, on both +sides, who, seeing him upon the eminence, assembled together with the +greatest eagerness; so that the two armies, without design, without +truce, and without fraud, were going to join in conversation, if, by +chance, Monsieur de Turenne had not perceived it at a distance. The +sight surprised him: he hastened that way; and the Marquis d'Humieres +acquainted him with the arrival of the Chevalier de Grammont, who wished +to speak to the sentry before he went to the headquarters: he added, that +he could not comprehend how the devil he had managed to assemble both +armies around him, for it was hardly a minute since he had left him. +"Truly," said Monsieur de Turenne, "he is a very extraordinary man; but +it is only reasonable that he should let us now have a little of his +company, since he has paid his first visit to the enemy." At these words +he despatched an aide-de-camp, to recal the officers of his army, and to +acquaint the Chevalier de Grammont with his impatience to see him. + +This order arrived at the same time, with one of the same nature, to the +enemy's officers. The Prince de Conde, being informed of this peaceable +interview, was not the least surprised at it, when he heard that it was +occasioned by the arrival of the Chevalier de Grammont. He only gave +Lussan orders to recal the officers, and to desire the Chevalier to meet +him at the same place the next day; which the Chevalier promised to do, +provided Monsieur de Turenne should approve of it, as he made no doubt he +would. + +His reception in the king's army was equally agreeable as that which he +had experienced from the enemy. Monsieur de Turenne esteemed him no less +for his frankness than for the poignancy of his wit: he took it very +kindly that he was the only courtier who came to see him in a time so +critical as the present: the questions which he asked him about the court +were not so much for information, as to divert himself with his manner of +relating their different apprehensions and alarms. The Chevalier de +Grammont advised him to beat the enemy, if he did not choose to be +answerable for an enterprise which he had undertaken without consulting +the Cardinal. Monsieur de Turenne promised him he would exert himself to +the utmost to follow his advice, and assured him, that if he succeeded, +he would make the queen keep her word with him; and concluded with +saying, that he was not sorry the Prince de Conde had expressed a desire +to see him. His measures were taken for an attack upon the lines: on +this subject he discoursed in private with the Chevalier de Grammont, and +concealed nothing from him except the time of execution: but this was all +to no purpose; for the Chevalier had seen too much, not to judge, from +his own knowledge, and the observations he had made, that from the +situation of the army, the attack could be no longer deferred. + +He set out the next day for his rendezvous, attended by a trumpet, and +found the Prince at the place which Monsieur de Lussan had described to +him the evening before. As soon as he alighted: "Is it possible," said +the Prince, embracing him, "that this can be the Chevalier de Grammont, +and that I should see him in the contrary party?" "It is you, my lord, +whom I see there," replied the Chevalier, "and I refer it to yourself, +whether it was the fault of the Chevalier de Grammont, or your own, that +we now embrace different interests." "I must confess," said the Prince, +"that if there are some who have abandoned me like base ungrateful +wretches, you have left me, as I left myself, like a man of honour, who +thinks himself in the right: but let us forget all cause of resentment, +and tell me what was your motive for coming here, you, whom I thought at +Peronne with the court." "Must I tell you?" said he: "why, faith then, +I came to save your life. I know that you cannot help being in the midst +of the enemy in a day of battle; it is only necessary for your horse to +be shot under you, and to be taken in arms, to meet with the same +treatment from this Cardinal, as your uncle Montmorency did from the +other. + + [Henry, Duke of Montmorency, who was taken prisoner first September, + 1692, and had his head struck off at Toulouse in the month of + November following.] + +"I come, therefore, to hold a horse in readiness for you, in case of a +similar misfortune, that you may not lose your head." "It is not the +first time," said the Prince, smiling, "that you have rendered me this +service, though the being taken prisoner at that time could not have been +so dangerous to me as now." + +From this conversation, they passed to more entertaining subjects. The +Prince asked him many questions concerning the court, the ladies, play, +and about his amours; and returning insensibly to the present situation +of affairs, the Chevalier having inquired after some officers of his +acquaintance, who had remained with him, the Prince told him that if he +chose, he might go to the lines, where he would have an opportunity not +only of seeing those whom he inquired after, but likewise the disposition +of the quarters and entrenchments. To this he consented, and the Prince +having shown him all the works and attended him back to their rendezvous, +"Well, Chevalier, said he, "when do you think we shall see you again?" +"Faith," replied he, "you have used me so handsomely, that I shall +conceal nothing from you. Hold yourself in readiness an hour before +daybreak; for, you may depend upon it, we shall attack you to-morrow +morning. I would not have acquainted you with this, perhaps, had I been +entrusted with the secret, but, nevertheless, in the present case you may +believe me." "You are still the same man," said the Prince, again +embracing him. The Chevalier returned to Monsieur de Turenne's camp +towards night; every preparation was then making for the attack of the +lines, and it was no longer a secret among the troops. + +"Well, Monsieur le Chevalier, were they all very glad to see you?" said +Monsieur de Turenne; "the Prince, no doubt, received you with the +greatest kindness, and asked a great number of questions?" "He has shown +me all the civility imaginable," replied the Chevalier; "and, to convince +me he did not take me for a spy, he led me round the lines and +entrenchments, and showed me the preparations he had made for your +reception." "And what is his opinion?" said the Marshal. "He is +persuaded that you will attack him to-night, or to-morrow by daybreak; +for you great captains," continued the Chevalier, "see through each +other's designs in a wonderful manner." + +Monsieur de Turenne, with pleasure, received this commendation from +a man who was not indiscriminately accustomed to bestow praise. He +communicated to him the disposition of the attack; and at the same time +acquainted him, that he was very happy that a man who had seen so many +actions was to be present at this; and that he esteemed it no small +advantage to have the benefit of his advice, but as he believed that the +remaining part of the night would be hardly sufficient for his repose, +after having passed the former without any refreshment, he consigned him +to the Marquis d'Humieres, who provided him with a supper and a lodging. + +The next day the lines of Arras were attacked, wherein Monsieur de +Turenne, being victorious, added additional lustre to his former glory; +and the Prince de Conde, though vanquished, lost nothing of his former +reputation. + +There are so many accounts of this celebrated battle, that to mention it +here would be altogether superfluous. The Chevalier de Grammont, who, +as a volunteer, was permitted to go into every part, has given a better +description of it than any other person. Monsieur de Turenne reaped +great advantage from that activity which never forsook the Chevalier +either in peace or war; and that presence of mind which enabled him to +carry orders, as coming from the general, so very apropos, that Monsieur +de Turenne, otherwise very particular in such matters, thanked him, when +the battle was over, in the presence of all his officers, and despatched +him to court with the first news of his success. + +All that is generally necessary in these expeditions, is to be accustomed +to hard riding, and to be well provided with fresh horses, but he had a +great many other obstacles to surmount. In the first place, the parties +of the enemy were dispersed over all the country, and obstructed his +passage. Then he had to prepare against greedy and officious courtiers, +who, on such occasions, post themselves in all the avenues, in order to +cheat the poor courier out of his news. However, his address preserved +him from the one, and deceived the others. + +He had taken eight or ten troopers, commanded by an officer of his +acquaintance, to escort him half way to Bapaume, being persuaded that the +greatest danger would lie between the camp and the first stage. He had +not proceeded a league before he was convinced of the truth of what he +suspected, and turning to the officer who followed him closely, "If you +are not well mounted," said he, "I would advise you to return to the +camp; for my part, I shall set spurs to my horse, and make the best of +my way." "Sir," said the officer, "I hope I shall be able to keep you +company, at whatever rate you go, until you are out of all danger." +"I doubt that," replied the Chevalier, "for those gentlemen there seem +prepared to pay us a visit." "Don't you see," said the officer, "they +are some of our own people who are grazing their horses?" "No," said the +Chevalier; "but I see very well that they are some of the enemy's +troopers." Upon which, observing to him that they were mounting, he +ordered the horsemen that escorted him to prepare themselves to make a +diversion, and he himself set off full speed towards Bapaume. + +He was mounted upon a very swift English horse; but having entangled +himself in a hollow way where the ground was deep and miry, he soon had +the troopers at his heels, who, supposing him to be some officer of rank, +would not be deceived, but continued to pursue him without paying any +attention to the others. The best mounted of the party began to draw +near him; for the English horses, swift as the wind on even ground, +proceeded but very indifferently in bad roads; the trooper presented his +carbine, and cried out to him, at some distance, "Good quarter." The +Chevalier de Grammont, who perceived that they gained upon him, and that +whatever efforts his horse made in such heavy ground, he must be +overtaken at last, immediately quitted the road to Bapaume, and took a +causeway to the left, which led quite a different way; as soon as he had +gained it, he drew up, as if to hear the proposal of the trooper, which +afforded his horse an opportunity of recovering himself; while his enemy, +mistaking his intention, and thinking that he only waited to surrender, +immediately exerted every effort, that he might take him before the rest +of his companions, who were following, could arrive, and by this means +almost killed his horse. + +One minute's reflection made the Chevalier consider what a disagreeable +adventure it would be, thus coming from so glorious a victory, and the +dangers of a battle so warmly disputed, to be taken by a set of +scoundrels who had not been in it, and, instead of being received in +triumph, and embraced by a great queen, for the important news with +which he was charged, to see himself stripped by the vanquished. + +During this short meditation, the trooper who followed him was arrived +within shot, and still presenting his carbine, offered him good quarter, +but the Chevalier de Grammont, to whom this offer, and the manner in +which it was made, were equally displeasing, made a sign to him to lower +his piece; and perceiving his horse to be in wind, he lowered his hand, +rode off like lightning, and left the trooper in such astonishment that +he even forgot to fire at him. + +As soon as he arrived at Bapaume, he changed horses; the commander of +this place showed him the greatest respect, assuring him that no person +had yet passed; that he would keep the secret, and that he would retain +all that followed him, except the couriers of Monsieur de Turenne. + +He now had only to guard against those who would be watching for him +about the environs of Peronne, to return as soon as they saw him, and +carry his news to court, without being acquainted with any of the +particulars. He knew very well that Marshal du Plessis, Marshal de +Villeroy, and Gaboury, had boasted of this to the Cardinal before his +departure. Wherefore, to elude this snare, he hired two well-mounted +horsemen at Bapaume, and as soon as he had got a league from that place, +and after giving them each two louis d'ors, to secure their fidelity, +he ordered them to ride on before, to appear very much terrified, and to +tell all those who should ask them any questions, "that all was lost, +that the Chevalier de Grammont had stopped at Bapaume, having no great +inclination to be the messenger of ill news; and that as for themselves, +they had been pursued by the enemy's troopers, who were spread over the +whole country since the defeat." + +Everything succeeded to his wish: the horsemen were intercepted by +Gaboury, whose eagerness had outstripped the two marshals'; but whatever +questions were asked them, they acted their parts so well, that Peronne +was already in consternation, and rumours of the defeat were whispered +among the courtiers, when the Chevalier de Grammont arrived. + +Nothing so enhances the value of good news, as when a false alarm of +bad has preceded; yet, though the Chevalier's was accompanied with this +advantage, none but their Majesties received it with that transport of +joy it deserved. + +The queen kept her promise to him in the most fascinating manner: she +embraced him before the whole court; the king appeared no less delighted; +but the Cardinal, whether with the view of lessening the merit of an +action which deserved a handsome reward, or whether it was from a return +of that insolence which always accompanied him in prosperity, appeared at +first not to pay any attention to what he said, and being afterwards +informed that the lines had been forced, that the Spanish army was +beaten, and that Arras was relieved, "Is the Prince de Conde taken?" +said he. "No," replied the Chevalier de Grammont. "He is dead then, I +suppose?" said the Cardinal. "Not so, neither," answered the Chevalier. +"Fine news indeed!" said the Cardinal, with an air of contempt; and at +these words he went into the queen's cabinet with their majesties. And +happy it was for the Chevalier that he did so, for without doubt he would +have given him some severe reply, in resentment for those two fine +questions, and the conclusion he had drawn from them. + +The court was filled with the Cardinal's spies: the Chevalier, as is +usual on such an occasion, was surrounded by a crowd of courtiers and +inquisitive people, and he was very glad to ease himself of some part +of the load which laid heavy on his heart, within the hearing of the +Cardinal's creatures, and which he would perhaps have told him to his +face. "Faith, gentlemen," said he, with a sneer, "there is nothing like +being zealous and eager in the service of kings and great princes: you +have seen what a gracious reception his Majesty has given me; you are +likewise witnesses in what an obliging manner the queen kept her promise +with me; but as for the Cardinal, he has received my news as if he gained +no more by it than he did by the death of Peter Mazarin." + + [Peter Mazarin was father to the Cardinal. He was a native of + Palermo in Sicily, which place he left in order to settle at Rome, + where he died in the year 1654.] + +This was sufficient to terrify all those who were sincerely attached to +him; and the best established fortune would have been ruined at some +period by a jest much less severe: for it was delivered in the presence +of witnesses, who were only desirous of having an opportunity of +representing it in its utmost malignancy, to make a merit of their +vigilance with a powerful and absolute minister. Of this the Chevalier +de Grammont was thoroughly convinced; yet whatever detriment he foresaw +might arise from it, he could not help being much pleased with what he +had said. + +The spies very faithfully discharged their duty: however, the affair took +a very different turn from what they expected. The next day, when the +Chevalier de Grammont was present while their Majesties were at dinner, +the Cardinal came in, and coming up to him, everybody making way for him +out of respect: "Chevalier," said he, "the news which you have brought +is very good, their Majesties are very well satisfied with it; and to +convince you it is more advantageous to me than the death of Peter +Mazarin, if you will come and dine with me we will have some play +together; for the queen will give us something to play for, over and +above her first promise." + +In this manner did the Chevalier de Grammont dare to provoke a powerful +minister, and this was all the resentment which the least vindictive of +all statesmen expressed on the occasion. It was indeed very unusual for +so young a man to reverence the authority of ministers no farther, than +as they were themselves respectable by their merit; for this, his own +breast, as well as the whole court, applauded him, and he enjoyed the +satisfaction of being the only man who durst preserve the least shadow of +liberty, in a general state of servitude; but it was perhaps owing to the +Cardinal's passing over this insult with impunity, that he afterwards +drew upon himself some difficulties, by other rash expressions less +fortunate in the event. + +In the mean time the court returned: the Cardinal, who was sensible that +he could no longer keep his master in a state of tutelage, being himself +worn out with cares and sickness, and having amassed treasures he knew +not what to do with, and being sufficiently loaded with the weight of +public odium, he turned all his thoughts towards terminating, in a manner +the most advantageous for France, a ministry which had so cruelly shaken +that kingdom. Thus, while he was earnestly laying the foundations of a +peace so ardently wished for, pleasure and plenty began to reign at +court. + +The Chevalier de Grammont experienced for a long time a variety of +fortune in love and gaming: he was esteemed by the courtiers, beloved by +beauties whom he neglected, and a dangerous favourite of those whom he +admired; more successful in play than in his amours; but the one +indemnifying him for want of success in the other, he was always full of +life and spirits; and in all transactions of importance, always a man of +honour. + +It is a pity that we must be forced here to interrupt the course of his +history, by an interval of some years, as has been already done at the +commencement of these memoirs. In a life where the most minute +circumstances are always singular and diverting, we can meet with no +chasm which does not afford regret; but whether he did not think them +worthy of holding a place among his other adventures, or that he has only +preserved a confused idea of them, we must pass to the parts of these +fragments which are better ascertained, that we may arrive at the subject +of his journey to England. + +The peace of the Pyrenees, the king's marriage,--the return of the +Prince de Conde, and the death of the Cardinal, gave a new face to the +state. + + [Louis XIV. married Maria Theresa of Austria. She was born 20th + September, 1638, married 1st June, 1660, and entered Paris 26th + August following. She died at Versailles 30th July, 1683, and was + buried at St. Denis.] + +The eyes of the whole nation were fixed upon their king, who, for +nobleness of mien, and gracefulness of person, had no equal; but it was +not then known that he was possessed of those superior abilities, which, +filling his subjects with admiration, in the end made him so formidable +to Europe. Love and ambition, the invisible springs of the intrigues and +cabals of all courts, attentively observed his first steps: pleasure +promised herself an absolute empire over a prince who had been kept in +ignorance of the necessary rules of government, and ambition had no hopes +of reigning in the court except in the minds of those who were able to +dispute the management of affairs; when men were surprised to see the +king on a sudden display such brilliant abilities, which prudence, in +some measure necessary, had so long obliged him to conceal. + +An application, inimical to the pleasures which generally attract that +age, and which unlimited power very seldom refuses, attached him solely +to the cares of government: all admired this wonderful change, but all +did not find their account in it: the great lost their consequence before +an absolute master, and the courtiers approached with reverential awe the +sole object of their respects and the sole master of their fortunes: +those who had conducted themselves like petty tyrants in their provinces, +and on the frontiers, were now no more than governors: favours, according +to the king's pleasure, were sometimes conferred on merit, and sometimes +for services done the state; but to importune, or to menace the court, +was no longer the method to obtain them. + +The Chevalier de Grammont regarded his master's attention to the affairs +of state as a prodigy: he could not conceive how he could submit at his +age to the rules he prescribed himself, or that he should give up so many +hours of pleasure, to devote them to the tiresome duties, and laborious +functions of government; but he blessed the Lord that henceforward no +more homage was to be paid, no more court to be made, but to him alone, +to whom they were justly due. Disdaining as he did the servile adoration +usually paid to a minister, he could never crouch before the power of the +two Cardinals who succeeded each other: he neither worshipped the +arbitrary power of the one, nor gave his approbation to the artifices of +the other; he had never received anything from Cardinal Richelieu but an +abbey, which, on account of his rank, could not be refused him; and he +never acquired anything from Mazarin but what he won of him at play. + +By many years' experience under an able general he had acquired a talent +for war; but this during a general peace was of no further service to +him. He therefore thought that, in the midst of a court flourishing in +beauties and abounding in wealth, he could not employ himself better than +in endeavouring to gain the good opinion of his master, in making the +best use of those advantages which nature had given him for play, and in +putting in practice new stratagems in love. + +He succeeded very well in the two first of these projects, and as he had +from that time laid it down as the rule of his conduct to attach himself +solely to the king in all his views of preferment, to have no regard for +favour unless when it was supported by merit, to make himself beloved by +the courtiers and feared by the minister, to dare to undertake anything +in order to do good, and to engage in nothing at the expense of +innocence, he soon became one in all the king's parties of pleasure, +without gaining the ill will of the courtiers. In play he was +successful, in love unfortunate; or, to speak more properly, his +restlessness and jealousy overcame his natural prudence, in a situation +wherein he had most occasion for it. La Motte Agencourt was one of the +maids of honour to the queen dowager, and, though no sparkling beauty, +she had drawn away lovers from the celebrated Meneville. + + [These two ladies at this period seem to have made a distinguished + figure in the annals of gallantry. One of their contemporaries + mentions them in these terms: "In this case, perhaps, I can give a + better account than most people; as, for instance, they had raised a + report, when the queen-mother expelled Mademoiselle de la Motte + Agencourt, that it was on his score, when I am assured, upon very + good grounds, that it was for entertaining the Marquis de Richelieu + against her majesty's express command. This lady, who was one of + her maids of honour, was a person whom I was particularly acquainted + with; and that so much, as I was supposed to have a passion for her: + she was counted one of the finest women of the court, and therefore + I was not at all displeased to have it thought so; for except + Mademoiselle de Meneville, (who had her admirers,) there was none + that could pretend to dispute it" Memoirs of the Comte de Rochfort, + 1696, p. 210. See also Anquetil, Louis X V1. sa Cour et le Regent, + tome i. p. 46.] + +It was sufficient in those days for the king to cast his eye upon a +young lady of the court to inspire her with hopes, and often with tender +sentiments; but if he spoke to her more than once, the courtiers took it +for granted, and those who had either pretensions to, or love for her, +respectfully withdrew both the one and the other, and afterwards only +paid her respect; but the Chevalier de Grammont thought fit to act quite +otherwise, perhaps to preserve a singularity of character, which upon the +present occasion was of no avail. + +He had never before thought of her, but as soon as he found that she +was honoured with the king's attention, he was of opinion that she was +likewise deserving of his. Having attached himself to her, he soon +became very troublesome, without convincing her he was much in love. +She grew weary of his persecutions, but he would not desist, neither on +account of her ill-treatment nor of her threats. This conduct of his at +first made no great noise, because she was in hopes that he would change +his behaviour; but finding him rashly persist in it, she complained of +him: and then it was that he perceived that if love renders all +conditions equal, it is not so between rivals. He was banished the +court, and not finding any place in France which could console him for +what he most regretted--the presence and sight of his prince--after +having made some slight reflections upon his disgrace, and bestowed +a few imprecations against her who was the cause of it, lie at last +formed the resolution of visiting England. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +As all fools are who have good memories +Better memory for injuries than for benefits +Better to know nothing at all, than to know too much +Envy each other those indulgences which themselves refuse +He as little feared the Marquis as he loved him +Would have been criminal even in chastity to spare (her husband) + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GRAMMONT, V2, BY HAMILTON *** + +************* This file should be named mcg2w10.txt or mcg2w10.zip ************ + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, mcg2w11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, mcg2w10a.txt + +This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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