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and some dismasted。 Our fleet lost neither ship nor mast； but the
victory cost the lives of many distinguished people； in addition to those
of fifteen hundred soldiers or sailors killed or wounded。
Towards evening on the 25th； by dint of maneuvers； aided by the wind； our
fleet came up again with that of Rooks。 The Comte de Toulouse was for
attacking it again on the morrow； and showed that if the attack were
successful； Gibraltar would be the first result of the victory。 That
famous place； which commands the important strait of the same name； had
been allowed to fall into neglect； and was defended by a miserable
garrison of forty men。 In this state it had of course easily fallen into
the hands of the enemies。 But they had not yet had time to man it with a
much superior force； and Admiral Rooks once defeated； it must have
surrendered to us。
The Comte de Toulouse urged his advice with all the energy of which he
was capable； and he was supported in opinion by others of more experience
than himself。 But D'O； the mentor of the fleet； against whose counsel he
had been expressly ordered by the King never to act； opposed the project
of another attack with such disdainful determination； that the Comte had
no course open but to give way。 The annoyance which this caused
throughout the fleet was very great。 It soon was known what would have
become of the enemy's fleet had it been attacked； and that Gibraltar
would have been found in exactly the same state as when abandoned。 The
Comte de Toulouse acquired great honour in this campaign； and his stupid
teacher lost little； because he had little to lose。
M。 de Mantua having surrendered his state to the King； thereby rendering
us a most important service in Italy； found himself ill at ease in his
territory； which had become the theatre of war； and had come incognito to
Paris。 He had apartments provided for him in the Luxembourg； furnished
magnificently with the Crown furniture； and was very graciously received
by the King。 The principal object of his journey was to marry some
French lady； and as he made no secret of this intention； more than one
plot was laid in order to provide him with a wife。 M。 de Vaudemont；
intent upon aggrandizing the house of Lorraine； wished。 M de Mantua to
marry a member of that family； and fixed upon Mademoiselle d'Elboeuf for
his bride。 The Lorraines did all in their power to induce M。 de Mantua
to accept her。 But M。 le Prince had also his designs in this matter。 He
had a daughter； whom he knew not how to get off his hands； and he thought
that in more ways than one it would be to his advantage to marry her to
the Duke of Mantua。 He explained his views to the King； who gave him
permission to follow them out； and promised to serve him with all his
protection。 But when the subject was broached to M。 de Mantua； he
declined this match in such a respectful； yet firm； manner that M。 le
Prince felt he must abandon all hope of carrying it out。 The Lorraines
were not more successful in their designs。 When M。 de Vaudemont had
first spoken of Mademoiselle d'Elboeuf； M。 de Mantua had appeared to
listen favourably。 This was in Italy。 Now that he was in Paris he acted
very differently。 It was in vain that Mademoiselle d'Elboeuf was thrust
in his way； as though by chance； at the promenades； in the churches； her
beauty； which might have touched many others； made no impression upon
him。 The fact was that M。 de Mantua； even long before leaving his state；
had fixed upon a wife。
Supping one evening with the Duc de Lesdiguieres； a little before the
death of the latter； he saw a ring with a portrait in it； upon the Duke's
finger。 He begged to be allowed to look at the portrait； was charmed
with it； and said he should be very happy to have such a beautiful
mistress。 The Duke at this burst out laughing； and said it was the
portrait of his wife。 As soon as the Duc de Lesdiguieres was dead；
de Mantua thought only of marrying the young widowed Duchess。 He sought
her everywhere when he arrived in Paris； but without being able to find
her； because she was in the first year of her widowhood。 He therefore
unbosomed himself to Torcy； who reported the matter to the King。 The
King approved of the design of M。 de Mantua； and charged the Marechal de
Duras to speak to the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres； who was his daughter。
The Duchess was equally surprised and afflicted when she learned what was
in progress。 She testified to her father her repugnance to abandon
herself to the caprices and the jealousy of an old Italian 'debauche' the
horror she felt at the idea of being left alone with him in Italy； and
the reasonable fear she had of her health； with a man whose own could not
be good。
I was promptly made acquainted with this affair； for Madame de
Lesdiguieres and Madame de Saint…Simon were on the most intimate terms。
I did everything in my power to persuade Madame de Lesdirguieres to
content to the match； insisting at once on her family position； on the
reason of state； and on the pleasure of ousting Madame d'Elboeuf；but it
was all in vain。 I never saw such firmness。 Pontchartrain； who came and
reasoned with her； was even less successful than I； for he excited her by
threats and menaces。 M。 le Prince himself supported ushaving no longer
any hope for himself； and fearing； above all things； M。 de Mantua's
marriage with a Lorraineand did all he could to persuade Madame de
Lesdiguieres to give in。 I renewed my efforts in the same direction； but
with no better success than before。 Nevertheless； M。 de Mantua；
irritated by not being able to see Madame de Lesdirguieres； resolved to
go and wait for her on a Sunday at the Minimes。 He found her shut up in
a chapel； and drew near the door in order to see her as she went out。 He
was not much gratified； her thick crape veil was lowered； it was with
difficulty he could get a glance at her。 Resolved to succeed； he spoke
to Torcy； intimating that Madame de Lesdiguieres ought not to refuse such
a slight favour as to allow herself to be seen in a church。 Torcy
communicated this to the King； who sent word to Madame de Lesdiguieres
that she must consent to the favour M。 de Mantua demanded。 She could not
refuse after this。 M。 de Mantua went accordingly； and waited for her in
the same place； where he had once already so badly seen her。 He found
her； in the chapel； and drew near the door； as before。 She came out； her
veil raised； passed lightly before him； made him a sliding courtesy as
she glided by； in reply to his bow； and reached her coach。
M。 de Mantua was charmed； he redoubled his efforts with the King and M。
de Duras； the matter was discussed in full council； like an affair of
stateindeed it was one； and it was resolved to amuse M。 de Mantua； and
yet at the same time to do everything to vanquish this resistance of
Madame de Lesdiguieres； except employing the full authority of the King；
which the King himself did not wish to exert。 Everything was promised to
her on the part of the King： that it should be his Majesty who would make
the stipulations of the marriage contract； that it should be his Majesty
who would give her