按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
That although she had been treated by the King with every consideration
and goodness； many people in Spain were； and would be； ignorant of it；
and that； therefore； her return to favour ought to be made known in as
public and convincing a manner as was her disgrace。 This was said with
all that eloquence and persuasiveness for which Madame des Ursins was
remarkable。 The effect of it exceeded her hopes。
The favours she obtained were prodigious。 Twenty thousand livres by way
of annual pension； and thirty thousand for her journey。 One of her
brothers； M。 de Noirmoutiers； blind since the age of eighteen or twenty；
was made hereditary duke； another； the Abbe de la Tremoille； of exceeding
bad life； and much despised in Rome； where he lived； was made cardinal。
What a success was this！ How many obstacles had to be overcome in order
to attain it！ Yet this was what Madame des Ursins obtained； so anxious
was Madame de Maintenon to get rid of her and to send her to reign in
Spain； that she might reign there herself。 Pleased and loaded with
favour as never subject was before； Madame des Ursins set out towards the
middle of July； and was nearly a month on the road。 It may be imagined
what sort of a reception awaited her in Spain。 The King and the Queen
went a day's journey out of Madrid to meet her。 Here； then； we see again
at the height of power this woman； whose fall the King but a short time
since had so ardently desired； and whose separation from the King and
Queen of Spain he had applauded himself for bringing about with so much
tact。 What a change 1n a few months！
The war continued this year； but without bringing any great success to
our arms。 Villars； at Circk； outmanoeuvred Marlborough in a manner that
would have done credit to the greatest general。 Marlborough； compelled
to change the plan of campaign he had determined on； returned into
Flanders； where the Marechal de Villeroy was stationed with his forces。
Nothing of importance occurred during the campaign； and the two armies
went into winter quarters at the end of October。
I cannot quit Flanders without relating another instance of the pleasant
malignity of M。 de Lauzun。 In marrying a daughter of the Marechal de
Lorges； he had hoped； as I have already said； to return into the
confidence of the King by means of the Marechal； and so be again
entrusted with military command。 Finding these hopes frustrated； he
thought of another means of reinstating himself in favour。 He determined
to go to the waters of Aix…la…Chapelle； not； as may be believed； for his
health； but in order to ingratiate himself with the important foreigners
whom he thought to find there； learn some of the enemy's plans； and come
back with an account of them to the King； who would； no doubt； reward him
for his zeal。 But he was deceived in his calculation。 Aix…la…Chapelle；
generally so full of foreigners of rank； was this year； owing to the war；
almost empty。 M。 de Lauzun found； therefore； nobody of consequence from
whom he could obtain any useful information。 Before his return； he
visited the Marechal de Villeroy； who received him with all military
honours； and conducted him all over the army； pointing out to him the
enemy's post； for the two armies were then quite close to each other。
His extreme anxiety； however； to get information； and the multitude of
his questions； irritated the officers who were ordered to do the honours
to him； and； in going about； they actually； at their own risk； exposed
him often to be shot or taken。 They did not know that his courage was
extreme； and were quite taken aback by his calmness； and； his evident
readiness to push on even farther than they chose to venture。
On returning to Court； M。 de Lauzun was of course pressed by everybody to
relate all he knew of the position of the two armies。 But he held
himself aloof from all questioners； and would not answer。 On the day
after his arrival he went to pay his court to Monseigneur； who did not
like him； but who also was no friend to the Marechal de Villeroy。
Monseigneur put many questions to him upon the situation of the two
armies； and upon the reasons which had prevented them from engaging each
other。 M。 de Lauzun shirked reply； like a man who wished to be pressed；
did not deny that he had well inspected the position of the two armies；
but instead of answering Monseigneur； dwelt upon the beauty of our
troops； their gaiety at finding themselves so near an enemy； and their
eagerness to fight。 Pushed at last to the point at which he wished to
arrive； 〃I will tell you； Monseigneur；〃 said he； 〃since you absolutely
command me； I scanned most minutely the front of the two armies to the
right and to the left； and all the ground between them。 It is true there
is no brook； and that I saw； neither are there any ravines； nor hollow
roads ascending or descending； but it is true that there were other
hindrances which I particularly remarked。〃
〃But what hindrance could there be；〃 said Monseigneur； 〃since there was
nothing between the two armies？〃
M。 de Lauzun allowed himself to be pressed upon this point； constantly
repeating the list of hindrances that did not exist； but keeping silent
upon the others。 At last； driven into a corner； he took his snuff…box
from his pocket。
〃You see；〃 said he； to Monseigneur； 〃there is one thing which much
embarrasses the feet； the furze that grows upon the ground； where M。 le
Marechal de Villeroy is encamped。 The furze； it is true； is not mixed
with any other plant； either hard or thorny； but it is a high furze； as
high； as high； let me see； what shall I say？〃and he looked all around
to find some object of comparison〃as high； I assure you； as this
snuffbox！〃
Monseigneur burst out laughing at this sally； and all the company
followed his example； in the midst of which M。 de Lauzun turned on his
heel and left the room。 His joke soon spread all over the Court and the
town； and in the evening was told to the King。 This was all the thanks
M。 de Villeroy obtained from M。 de Lauzun for the honours he had paid
him； and this was M。 de Lauzun's consolation for his ill…success at Aix…
la…Chapelle。
In Italy our armies were not more successful than elsewhere。 From time
to time； M。 de Vendome attacked some unimportant post； and； having
carried it； despatched couriers to the King； magnifying the importance
of the exploit。 But the fact was； all these successes led to nothing。
On one occasion； at Cassano； M。 de Vendome was so vigorously attacked by
Prince Louis of Baden that； in spite of his contempt and his audacity；
he gave himself up for lost。 When danger was most imminent； instead of
remaining at his post； he retired from the field of battle to a distant
country…house； and began to consider how a retreat might be managed。
The Grand Prieur； his brother； was in command under him； and was ordered
to remain upon the field； but he was more intent upon saving his skin
than on obeying orders； and so； at the very outset of the fight； ran away
to a country…house hard by。 M。 de Vendome strangely enough had sat down
to eat at the country…house whither he had retired； and was in the midst
of his mea