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had never been so dismayed。 The same day Madame de Nogaret related this
to Madame de Saint…Simon and to me； in the strictest confidence。 She
counselled the Duchess to behave gently with such a dangerous madman； and
to avoid committing herself in any way with him。 The worst was； that
after this he threatened and said many things against Nangis； as a man
with whom he was deeply offended； and whom he meant to call to account。
Although he gave no reason for this； the reason was only too evident。
The fear of Madame de Bourgogne at this may be imagined； and also that of
Nangis。 He was brave and cared for nobody； but to be mixed up in such an
affair as this made him quake with fright。 He beheld his fortune and his
happiness in the hands of a furious madman。 He shunned Maulevrier from
that time as much as possible； showed himself but little； and held his
peace。
For six weeks Madame de Bourgogne lived in the most measured manner； and
in mortal tremors of fear； without； however； anything happening。 I know
not who warned Tesse of what was going on。 But when he learnt it he
acted like a man of ability。 He persuaded his son…in…law； Maulevrier； to
follow him to Spain； as to a place where his fortune was assured to him。
He spoke to Fagon； who saw all and knew all。 He understood matters in a
moment； and at once said； that as so many remedies had been tried
ineffectually for Maulevrier； he must go to a warmer climate； as a winter
in France would inevitably kill him。 It was then as a remedy； and as
people go to the waters； that he went to Spain。 The King and all the
Court believed this； and neither the King nor Madame de Maintenon offered
any objections。 As soon as Tesse knew this he hurried his son…in…law out
of the realm； and so put a stop to his follies and the mortal fear they
had caused。 To finish this adventure at once； although it will lead me
far beyond the date of other matters to be spoken of after； let me say
what became of Maulevrier after this point of the narrative。
He went first to Spain with Tesse。 On the way they had an interview with
Madame des Ursins； and succeeded in gaining her favour so completely；
that； upon arriving at Madrid； the King and Queen of Spain； informed of
this； welcomed them with much cordiality。 Maulevrier soon became a great
favourite with the Queen of Spain。 It has been said； that he wished to
please her； and that he succeeded。 At all events he often had long
interviews with her in private； and these made people think and talk。
Maulevrier began to believe it time to reap after having so well sown。
He counted upon nothing less than being made grandee of Spain； and would
have obtained this favour but for his indiscretion。 News of what was in
store for him was noised abroad。 The Duc de Grammont； then our
ambassador at Madrid； wrote word to the King of the rumours that were in
circulation of Maulevrier's audacious conduct towards the Queen of Spain；
and of the reward it was to meet with。 The King at once sent a very
strong letter to the King of Spain about Maulevrier； who； by the same
courier； was prohibited from accepting any favour that might be offered
him。 He was ordered at the same time to join Tesse at Gibraltar。 He had
already done so at the instance of Tesse himself； so the courier went
from Madrid to Gibraltar to find him。 His rage and vexation upon seeing
himself deprived of the recompense he had considered certain were very
great。 But they yielded in time to the hopes he formed of success； and
he determined to set off for Madrid and thence to Versailles。 His
father…in…law tried to retain him at the siege； but in vain。 His
representations and his authority were alike useless。 Maulevrier hoped
to gain over the King and Queen of Spain so completely； that our King
would be forced； as it were； to range himself on their side； but the Duc
de Grammont at once wrote word that Maulevrier had left the siege of
Gibraltar and returned to Madrid。 This disobedience was at once
chastised。 A courier was immediately despatched to Maulevrier；
commanding him to set out for France。 He took leave of the King and
Queen of Spain like a man without hope； and left Spain。 The most
remarkable thing is； that upon arriving at Paris； and finding the Court
at Marly； and his wife there also； he asked permission to go too； the
husbands being allowed by right to accompany their wives there； and the
King； to avoid a disturbance； did not refuse him。
At first everything seemed to smile upon Maulervrier。 He had； as I have
said； made friends with Madame des Ursins when he was on the road to
Spain。 He had done so chiefly by vaunting his intimacy with Madame de
Bourgogne； and by showing to Madame des Ursins that he was in many of the
secrets of the Court。 Accordingly； upon his return； she took him by the
hand and showed a disposition towards him which could not fail to
reinstate him in favour。 She spoke well of him to Madame de Maintenon；
who； always much smitten with new friends； received him well； and often
had conversations with him which lasted more than three hours。 Madame de
Maintenon mentioned him to the King； and Maulevrier； who had returned out
of all hope； now saw himself in a more favourable position than ever。
But the old cause of trouble still existed； and with fresh complications。
Nangis was still in favour； and his appearance made Maulevrier miserable。
There was a new rival too in the field； the Abbe de Polignac。
Pleasing； nay most fascinating in manner； the Abbe was a man to gain all
hearts。 He stopped at no flattery to succeed in this。 One day when
following the King through the gardens of Marly； it came on to rain。
The King considerately noticed the Abbe's dress； little calculated to
keep off rain。 〃It is no matter； Sire；〃 said De Polignac； 〃the rain of
Marly does not wet。〃 People laughed much at this； and these words were a
standing reproach to the soft…spoken Abbe。
One of the means by which the Abbe gained the favour of the King was by
being the lover of Madame du Maine。 His success at length was great in
every direction。 He even envied the situations of Nangis and Maulevrier；
and sought to participate in the same happiness。 He took the same road。
Madame d'O and the Marechale de Coeuvres became his friends。
He sought to be heard； and was heard。 At last he faced the danger of the
Swiss； and on fine nights was seen with the Duchess in the gardens。
Nangis diminished in favour。 Maulevrier on his return increased in fury。
The Abbe met with the same fate as they： everything was perceived： people
talked about the matter in whispers； but silence was kept。 This triumph；
in spite of his age； did not satisfy the Abbe： he aimed at something more
solid。 He wished to arrive at the cardinalship； and to further his views
he thought it advisable to ingratiate himself into the favour of Monsieur
de Bourgogne。 He sought introduction to them through friends of mine；
whom I warned against him as a man without scruple； and intent only upon
advancing himself。 My warnings were in vain。 My friends would not heed
me； and the Abbe de Polignac succeeded in gaining the confidence of
Mons