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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 meal when news was brought him that； owing to the prodigies
performed by one of his officers； Le Guerchois； the fortunes of the day
had changed； and Prince Louis of Baden was retiring。 M。 Vendome had
great difficulty to believe this； but ordered his horse； mounted； and；
pushing on； concluded the combat gloriously。 He did not fail； of course；
to claim all the honours of this victory； which in reality was a barren
one； and sent word of his triumph to the King。 He dared to say that the
loss of the enemy was more than thirteen thousand； and our loss less than
three thousandwhereas； the loss was at least equal。 This exploit；
nevertheless； resounded at the Court and through the town as an advantage
the most complete and the most decisive； and due entirely to the
vigilance； valour； and capacity of Vendome。 Not a word was said of his
country…house； or the interrupted meal。 These facts were only known
after the return of the general officers。 As for the Grand Prieur； his
poltroonery had been so public； his flight so disgracefulfor he had
taken troops with him to protect the country…house in which he sought
shelterthat he could not be pardoned。 The two brothers quarrelled upon
these points； and in the end the Grand Prieur was obliged to give up his
command。 He retired to his house at Clichy； near Paris； but； tiring of
that place； he went to Rome； made the acquaintance there of the Marquise
de Richelieu； a wanderer like himself； and passed some time with her at
Genoa。 Leaving that city； he went to Chalons…sur…Saone； which had been
fixed upon as the place of his a exile； and there gave himself up to the
debaucheries in which he usually lived。 From this time until the Regency
we shall see nothing more of him。 I shall only add； therefore； that he
never went sober to bed during thirty years； but was always carried
thither dead drunk： was a liar； swindler； and thief； a rogue to the
marrow of his bones； rotted with vile diseases； the most contemptible and
yet most dangerous fellow in the world。
One day…I am speaking of a time many years previous to the date of the
occurrences just related…one day there was a great hunting party at Saint
Germain。 The chase was pursued so long； that the King gave up； and
returned to Saint Germain。 A number of courtiers； among whom was M。 de
Lauzun； who related this story to me； continued their sport； and just as
darkness was coming on； discovered that they had lost their way。 After a
time； they espied a light； by which they guided their steps； and at
length reached the door of a kind of castle。 They knocked； they called
aloud； they named themselves； and asked for hospitality。 It was then
between ten and eleven at night； and towards the end of autumn。 The door
was opened to them。 The master of the house came forth。 He made them
take their boots off； and warm themselves； he put their horses into his
stables； and at the same time had a supper prepared for his guests； who
stood much in need of it。 They did not wait long for the meal； yet when
served it proved excellent； the wines served with it； too； were of
several kinds； and excellent likewise： as for the master of the house； he
was so polite and respectful； yet without being ceremonious or eager；
End