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account who had claimed without reason to be exempt from this duty。
I added； keeping my eyes fixed upon the King all the time； that I begged
him to believe that none of his subjects were more submissive to his will
or more willing to acknowledge the supremacy of his authority in all
things than the Dukes。 Until this his tone and manner had been very
severe； but now they both softened； and he said； with much goodness and
familiarity； that 〃that was how it was proper to speak and think；〃 and
other remarks equally gracious。 I took then the opportunity of
expressing the sorrow I felt at seeing； that while my sole endeavour was
to please him； my enemies did all they could to blacken me in his eyes；
indicating that I suspected M。 le Grand； who had never pardoned me for
the part I took in the affair of the Princesse d'Harcourt； was one of the
number。 After I had finished the King remained still a moment； as if
ready to hear if I had anything more to say； and then quitted me with a
bow； slight but very gracious； saying it was well； and that he was
pleased with me。
I learnt afterwards that he said the same thing of me in the evening to
Chamillart； but； nevertheless； that he did not seem at all shaken in his
prejudice in favour of M。 le Grand。 The King was in fact very easy to
prejudice； difficult to lead back； and most unwilling to seek
enlightenment； or to listen to any explanations； if authority was in the
slightest degree at stake。 Whoever had the address to make a question
take this shape； might be assured that the King would throw aside all
consideration of justice； right； and reason； and dismiss all evidence。
It was by playing on this chord that his ministers knew how to manage him
with so much art； and to make themselves despotic masters； causing him to
believe all they wished； while at the same time they rendered him
inaccessible to explanation； and to those who might have explained。
I have； perhaps； too much expanded an affair which might have been more
compressed。 But in addition to the fact that I was mixed up in it； it is
by these little private details； as it seems to me； that the characters
of the Court and King are best made known。
In the early part of the next year； 1704。； the King made La Queue； who
was a captain of cavalry； campmaster。 This La Queue was seigneur of the
place of which he bore the name； distant six leagues from Versailles； and
as much from Dreux。 He had married a girl that the King had had by a
gardener's wife。 Bontems； the confidential valet of the King； had
brought about the marriage without declaring the names of the father or
the mother of the girl； but La Queue knew it； and promised himself a
fortune。 The girl herself was tall and strongly resembled the King。
Unfortunately for her； she knew the secret of her birth； and much envied
her three sistersrecognised； and so grandly married。 She lived on very
good terms with her husbandalways； however； in the greatest privacy
and had several children by him。 La Queue himself； although by this
marriage son…in…law of the King； seldom appeared at the Court； and； when
there； was on the same footing as the simplest soldier。 Bontems did not
fail from time to time to give him money。 The wife of La Queue lived
very melancholily for twenty years in her village； never left it； and
scarcely ever went abroad for fear of betraying herself。
On Wednesday； the 25th of June； Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne had a son
born to him。 This event caused great joy to the King and the Court。
The town shared their delight； and carried their enthusiasm almost to
madness； by the excess of their demonstration and their fetes。 The King
gave a fete at Marly； and made the most magnificent presents to Madame la
Duchesse de Bourgogne when she left her bed。 But we soon had reason to
repent of so much joy； for the child died in less than a yearand of so
much money unwisely spent； in fetes when it was wanted for more pressing
purposes。 Even while these rejoicings were being celebrated； news
reached us which spread consternation in every family； and cast a gloom
over the whole city。
I have already said that a grand alliance； with the Emperor at its head；
had been formed against France； and that our troops were opposing the
Allies in various parts of Europe。 The Elector of Bavaria had joined his
forces to ours； and had already done us some service。 On the 12th of
August he led his men into the plain of Hochstedt； where； during the
previous year； he had gained a victory over the Imperialists。 In this
plain he was joined by our troops； who took up positions right and left
of him； under the command of Tallard and Marsin。 The Elector himself had
command of all。 Soon after their arrival at Hochstedt； they received
intelligence that Prince Eugene； with the Imperialist forces； and the
Duke of Marlborough with the English were coming to meet them。 Our
generals had； however； all the day before them to choose their ground；
and to make their dispositions。 It would have been difficult to succeed
worse； both with the one and the other。 A brook； by no means of a miry
kind； ran parallel to our army； and in front of it a spring； which formed
a long and large quagmire； nearly separated the two lines of Marshal
Tallard。 It was a strange situation for a general to take up； who is
master of a vast plain； and it became； as will be seen； a very sad one。
At his extreme right was the large village of Blenheim； in which； by a
blindness without example； he had placed twenty…six battalions of
infantry； six regiments of dragoons； and a brigade of cavalry。 It was an
entire army merely for the purpose of holding this village； and
supporting his right； and of course he had all these troops the less to
aid him in the battle which took place。 The first battle of Hochstedt
afforded a lesson which ought to have been studied on this occasion。
There were many officers present； too； who had been at that battle； but
they were not consulted。 One of two courses was open； either to take up
a position behind the brook； and parallel to it； so as to dispute its
passage with the enemies； or to take advantage of the disorder they would
be thrown into in crossing it by attacking them then。 Both these plans
were good； the second was the better； but neither was adopted。 What was
done was； to leave a large space between our troops and the brook； that
the enemy might pass at their ease； and be overthrown afterwards； as was
said。 With such dispositions it is impossible to doubt but that our
chiefs were struck with blindness。 The Danube flowed near enough to
Blenheim to be of sufficient support to our right； better indeed than
that village； which consequently there was no necessity to hold。
The enemies arrived on the 13th of August at the dawn； and at once took
up their position on the banks of the brook。 Their surprise must have
been great to see our army so far off； drawn up in battle array。 They
profited by the extent of ground left to them； crossed the brook at
nearly every point； formed themselves in several lines on the side to
which they crossed； and then extended themselves at their ease； without