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when they saw the King caress this little dog over and over again。 In
fine； such a high flight has never been seen。 People could not accustom
themselves to it； and those who knew the King and his Court are surprised
still； when they think of it； after so many years。 There was no longer
any doubt that Madame des Ursins would return into Spain。 All her
frequent private conversations with the King and Madame de Maintenon were
upon that country。 I will only add here that her return took place in
due time； and that her influence became more paramount than ever。
CHAPTER XXIX
In relating what happened to Madame des Ursins upon her return to Spain；
I have carried the narrative into the year 1705。 It is not necessary to
retrace our steps。 Towards the end of 1703 Courtin died。 He had early
shone at the Council； and had been made Intendant of Picardy。
M。 de Chaulnes； whose estates were there； begged him to tax them as
lightly as possible。 Courtin； who was a very intimate friend of M。 de
Chaulnes； complied with his request； but the next year； in going over his
accounts； he found that to do a good turn to M。 de Chaulnes he had done
an ill turn to many othersthat is to say； he had relieved M。 de
Chaulnes at the expense of other parishes； which he had overcharged。
The trouble this caused him made him search deeply into the matter； and
he found that the wrong he had done amounted to forty thousand francs。
Without a second thought he paid back this money； and asked to be
recalled。 As he was much esteemed； his request was not at once complied
with； but he represented so well that he could not pass his life doing
wrong； and unable to serve his friends； that at last what he asked was
granted。 He afterwards had several embassies； went to England as
ambassador； and was very successful in that capacity。 I cannot quit
Courtin without relating an adventure he had one day with Fieubet； a
Councillor of State like himself。 As they were going to Saint Germain
they were stopped by several men and robbed； robbery was common in those
days； and Fieubet lost all he had in his pockets。 When the thieves had
left them； and while Fieubet was complaining of his misfortune； Courtin
began to applaud himself for having saved his watch and fifty pistoles
that he had time to slip into his trowsers。 Immediately on hearing this；
Fieubet put his head out of the coach window； and called back the
thieves； who came sure enough to see what he wanted。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said he； 〃you appear to be honest folks in distress； it is
not reasonable that you should be the dupes of this gentleman； who his
swindled you out of fifty pistoles and his watch。〃 And then turning to
Courtin； he smilingly said： 〃You told me so yourself； monsieur； so give
the things up like a man； without being searched。〃
The astonishment and indignation of Courtin were such that he allowed
money and watch to be taken from him without uttering a single word； but
when the thieves were gone away； he would have strangled Fieubet had not
this latter been the stronger of the two。 Fieubet only laughed at him；
and upon arriving at Saint Germain told the adventure to everybody he
met。 Their friends had all the trouble in the world to reconcile them。
The year finished with an affair in which I was not a little interested。
During the year there were several grand fetes； at which the King went to
High Mass and vespers。 On these occasions a lady of the Court； named by
the Queen； or when there was none； by the Dauphiness； made a collection
for the poor。 The house of Lorraine； always anxious to increase its
importance； shirked impudently this duty； in order thereby to give itself
a new distinction； and assimilate its rank to that of the Princes of the
blood。 It was a long time before this was perceived。 At last the
Duchesse de Noailles； the Duchesse de Guiche； her daughter； the Marechal
de Boufflers； and others； took notice of it； and I was soon after
informed of it。 I determined that the matter should be arranged； and
that justice should be done。
The Duchesse de Lude was first spoken to on the subject； she； weak and
timid； did not dare to do anything； but at last was induced to speak to
Madame la Duchesse de Bourgogne； who； wishing to judge for herself as to
the truth of the matter； ordered Madame de Montbazon to make the
collection for the poor at the next fete that took place。 Although very
well； Madame de Montbazon pretended to be ill； stopped in bed half a day；
and excused herself on this ground from performing the duty。 Madame de
Bourgogne was annoyed； but she did not dare to push matters farther； and；
in consequence of this refusal； none of the Duchesses would make the
collection。 Other ladies of quality soon perceived this； and they also
refused to serve； so that the collection fell into all sorts of hands；
and sometimes was not made at a11。 Matters went on so far； indeed； that
the King at last grew angry； and threatened to make Madame de Bourgogne
herself take this office。 But refusals still followed upon refusals； and
the bomb thus at length was ready to burst。
The King； who at last ordered the daughter of M。 le Grand to take the
plate on New Year's Day； 1704。； had； it seems； got scent of the part I
was taking in this matter； and expressed himself to Madame de Maintenon；
as I learnt； as very discontented with me and one or two other Dukes。
He said that the Dukes were much less obedient to him than the Princes；
and that although many Duchesses had refused to make the collection； the
moment he had proposed that the daughter of M。 le Grand should take it；
M。 le Grand consented。 On the next day； early in the morning； I saw
Chamillart； who related to me that on the previous evening； before he had
had time to open his business； the King had burst out in anger against
me； saying it was very strange； but that since I had quitted the army I
did nothing but meddle in matters of rank and bring actions against
everybody； finishing； by declaring that if he acted well he should send
me so far away that I should be unable to importune him any more。
Chamillart added； that he had done all in his power to appease the King；
but with little effect。
After consulting with my friends； I determined to go up to the King and
boldly ask to speak to him in his cabinet； believing that to be the
wisest course I could pursue。 He was not yet so reconciled to me as he
afterwards became； and； in fact； was sorely out of humour with me。 This
step did not seem； therefore； altogether unattended with danger； but；
as I have said； I resolved to take it。 As he passed； therefore； from his
dinner that same day； I asked permission to follow him into his cabinet。
Without replying to me； he made a sign that I might enter； and went into
the embrasure of the window。
When we were quite alone I explained； at considerable length； my reasons
for acting in this matter； declaring that it was from no disrespect to
his Majesty that I had requested Madame de Saint…Simon and the other
Duchesses to refuse to collect for the poor； but simply to bring those to
account who had claimed without reason to be exempt from this duty。
I