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asked if what he heard was not mere compliment； and whether he could
count upon it。 As the King assured him that he might do so； Puysieux
assumed a brisk air； and said that he was not so sure of that； and that
he was not pleased with his Majesty。
〃And why not？〃 said the King。
〃Why not？〃 replied Puysieux； 〃why； because although the most honest man
in your realm； you have not kept to a promise you made me more than fifty
years ago。〃
〃What promise？〃 asked the King。
〃What promise； Sire？〃 said Puysieux； 〃you have a good memory； you cannot
have forgotten it。 Does not your Majesty remember that one day； having
the honour to play at blindman's buff with you at my grandmother's； you
put your cordon bleu on my back； the better to hide yourself； and that
when； after the game； I restored it to you； you promised to give it me
when you became master； you have long been so； thoroughly master； and
nevertheless that cordon bleu is still to come。
The King； who recollected the circumstance； here burst out laughing； and
told Puysieux he was in the right； and that a chapter should be held on
the first day of the new year expressly for the purpose of receiving him
into the order。 And so in fact it was； and Puysieux received the cordon
bleu on the day the King had named。 This fact is not important； but it
is amusing。 It is altogether singular in connection with a prince as
serious and as imposing as Louis XIV。； and it is one of those little
Court anecdotes which are curious。
Here is another more important fact； the consequences of which are still
felt by the State。 Pontchartrain； Secretary of State for the Navy； was
the plague of it； as of all those who were under his cruel dependence。
He was a man who； with some…amount of ability； was disagreeable and
pedantic to an excess； who loved evil for its own sake； who was jealous
even of his father； who was a cruel tyrant towards his wife； a woman all
docility and goodness； who was in one word a monster； whom the King kept
in office only because he feared him。 An admiral was the abhorrence of
Pontchartrain； and an admiral who was an illegitimate son of the King；
he loathed。 There was nothing； therefore； that he had not done during
the war to thwart the Comte de Toulouse； he laid some obstacles
everywhere in his path； he had tried to keep him out of the command of
the fleet； and failing this； had done everything to render the fleet
useless。
These were bold strokes against a person the King so much loved； but
Pontchartrain knew the weak side of the King； he knew how to balance the；
father against the master； to bring forward the admiral and set aside the
son。 In this manner the Secretary of State was able to put obstacles in
the way of the Comte de Toulouse that threw him almost into despair； and
the Count could do little to defend himself。 It was a well…known fact at
sea and in the ports where the ships touched； and it angered all the
fleet。 Pontchartrain accordingly was abhorred there； while the Comte de
Toulouse； by his amiability and other good qualities； was adored。
At last； the annoyance he caused became so unendurable； that the Comte de
Toulouse； at the end of his cruise in the Mediterranean； returned to
Court and determined to expose the doings of Pontchartrain to the King。
The very day he had made up his mind to do this； and just before he
intended to have his interview with the King； Madame Pontchartrain；
casting aside her natural timidity and modesty； came to him； and with
tears in her eyes begged him not to bring about the ruin of her husband。
The Comte de Toulouse was softened。 He admitted afterwards that he could
not resist the sweetness and sorrow of Madame de Pontchartrain； and that
all his resolutions； his weapons； fell from his hands at the thought of
the sorrow which the poor woman would undergo； after the fall of her
brutal husband； left entirely in the hands of such a furious Cyclops。
In this manner Pontchartrain was saved； but it cost dear to the State。
The fear he was in of succumbing under the glory or under the vengeance
of an admiral who was son of the King determined him to ruin the fleet
itself； so as to render it incapable of receiving the admiral again。
He determined to do this； and kept to his word； as was afterwards only
too clearly verified by the facts。 The Comte de Toulouse saw no more
either ports or vessels； and from that time only very feeble squadrons
went out； and even those very seldom。 Pontchartrain； had the impudence
to boast of this before my face。
When I last spoke of Madame des Ursins； I described her as living in the
midst of the Court； flattered and caressed by all； and on the highest
terms of favour with the King and Madame de Maintenon。 She found her
position； indeed； so far above her hopes； that she began to waver in her
intention of returning to Spain。 The age and the health of Madame de
Maintenon tempted her。 She would have preferred to govern here rather
than in Spain。 Flattered by the attentions paid her； she thought those
attentions； or； I may say； rather those servile adorations； would
continue for ever； and that in time she might arrive at the highest point
of power。 The Archbishop of Aix and her brother divined her thoughts；
for she did not dare to avow them； and showed her in the clearest way
that those thoughts were calculated to lead her astray。 They explained
to her that the only interest Madame de Maintenon had in favouring her
was on account of Spain。 Madame des Ursinsonce back in that country；
Madame de Maintenon looked forward to a recommencement of those relations
which had formerly existed between them； by which the government of Spain
in appearance； if not in reality； passed through her hands。 They
therefore advised Madame des Ursins on no account to think of remaining
in France； at the same time suggesting that it would not be amiss to stop
there long enough to cause some inquietude to Madame de Maintenon； so as
to gain as much advantage as possible from it。
The solidity of these reasons persuaded Madame des Ursins to follow the
advice given her。 She resolved to depart； but not until after a delay by
which she meant to profit to the utmost。 We shall soon see what success
attended her schemes。 The terms upon which I stood with her enabled me
to have knowledge of all the sentiments that had passed through her mind：
her extreme desire； upon arriving in Paris； to return to Spain； the
intoxication which seized her in consequence of the treatment she
received； and which made her balance this desire； and her final
resolution。 It was not until afterwards； however； that I learnt all the
details I have just related。
It was not long before Madame de Maintenon began to feel impatient at the
long…delayed departure of Madame des Ursins。 She spoke at last upon the
subject； and pressed Madame des Ursins to set out for Spain。 This was
just what the other wanted。 She said that as she had been driven out of
Spain like a criminal； she must go back with honour； if Madame de
Maintenon wished her to gain the confidence and esteem of the Spaniards。
That although she had been treated by the King with every consi