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brought to admit the circulation of the blood。
A rather strange novelty was observed at Fontainebleau： Madame publicly
at the play； in the second year of her mourning for Monsieur！ She made
some objections at first； but the King persuaded her； saying that what
took place in his palace ought not to be considered as public。
On Saturday； the 22nd of October of this year （1702）； at about ten in the
morning； I had the misfortune to lose my father…in…law； the Marechal de
Lorges； who died from the effects of an unskilful operation performed
upon him for the stone。 He had been brought up as a Protestant； and had
practised that religion。 But he had consulted on the one hand with
Bossuet； and on the other hand with M。 Claude； （Protestant） minister of
Charenton； without acquainting them that he was thus in communication
with both。 In the end the arguments of Bossuet so convinced him that he
lost from that time all his doubts； became steadfastly attached to the
Catholic religion； and strove hard to convert to it all the Protestants
with whom he spoke。 M。 de Turenne； with whom he was intimately allied；
was in a similar state of mind； and； singularly enough； his doubts were
resolved at the same time； and in exactly the same manner； as those of M。
de Lorges。 The joy of the two friends； who had both feared they should
be estranged from each other when they announced their conversion； was
very great。 The Comtesse de Roye； sister to M。 de Lorges； was sorely
affected at this change； and she would not consent to see him except on
condition that he never spoke of it。
M。 de Lorges commanded with great distinction in Holland and elsewhere；
and at the death of M。 de Turenne； took for the time； and with great
honour； his place。 He was made Marshal of France on the 21st of
February； 1676； not before he had fairly won that distinction。 The
remainder of his career showed his capacity in many ways； and acquired
for him the esteem of all。 His family were affected beyond measure at
his loss。 That house was in truth terrible to see。 Never was man so
tenderly or so universally regretted； or so worthy of being so。 Besides
my own grief； I had to sustain that of Madame de Saint…Simon； whom many
times I thought I should lose。 Nothing was comparable to the attachment
she had for her father； or the tenderness he had for her； nothing more
perfectly alike than their hearts and their dispositions。 As for me； I
loved him as a father； and he loved me as a son； with the most entire and
sweetest confidence。
About the same time died the Duchesse de Gesvres； separated from a
husband who had been the scourge of his family； and had dissipated
millions of her fortune。 She was a sort of witch； tall and lean； who
walked like an ostrich。 She sometimes came to Court； with the odd look
and famished expression to which her husband had brought her。 Virtue；
wit； and dignity distinguished her。 I remember that one summer the King
took to going very often in the evening to Trianon； and that once for all
he gave permission to all the Court； men and women； to follow him。 There
was a grand collation for the Princesses； his daughters； who took their
friends there； and indeed all the women went to it if they pleased。 One
day the Duchesse de Gesvres took it into her head to go to Trianon and
partake of this meal； her age； her rarity at Court； her accoutrements；
and her face； provoked the Princesses to make fun of her in whispers with
their fair visitors。 She perceived this； and without being embarrassed；
took them up so sharply； that they were silenced； and looked down。 But
this was not all： after the collation she began to talk so freely and yet
so humorously about them that they were frightened； and went and made
their excuses； and very frankly asked for quarter。 Madame de Gesvres was
good enough to grant them this； but said it was only on condition that
they learned how to behave。 Never afterwards did they venture to look at
her impertinently。 Nothing was ever so magnificent as these soirees of
Trianon。 All the flowers of the parterres were renewed every day； and I
have seen the King and all the Court obliged to go away because of the
tuberoses； the odour of which perfumed the air； but so powerfully； on
account of their quantity； that nobody could remain in the garden；
although very vast； and stretching like a terrace all along the canal。
CHAPTER XXVI
The Prince d'Harcourt at last obtained permission to wait on the King；
after having never appeared at Court for seventeen years。 He had
followed the King in all his conquests in the Low Countries and Franche…
Comte； but he had remained little at the Court since his voyage to Spain；
whither he had accompanied the daughter of Monsieur to the King； Charles
II。； her husband。 The Prince d'Harcourt took service with Venice； and
fought in the Morea until the Republic made peace with the Turks。 He was
tall； well made； and； although he looked like a nobleman and had wit；
reminded one at the same time of a country actor。 He was a great liar；
and a libertine in body and mind； a great spendthrift； a great and
impudent swindler； with a tendency to low debauchery； that cursed him all
his life。 Having fluttered about a long time after his return； and found
it impossible either to live with his wifewhich is not surprisingor
accommodate himself to the Court or to Paris； he set up his rest at Lyons
with wine； street…walkers； a society to match； a pack of hounds； and a
gaming…table to support his extravagance and enable him to live at the
expense of the dupes； the imbeciles； and the sons of fat tradesmen； whom
he could lure into his nets。 Thus he spent many years； and seemed to
forget that there existed in the world another country besides Lyons。
At last he got tired； and returned to Paris。 The King； who despised him；
let him alone； but would not see him； and it was only after two months of
begging for him by the Lorraines； that he received permission to present
himself。 His wife； the Princesse d'Harcourt； was a favourite of Madame
de Maintenon。 The origin of their friendship is traced to the fact that
Brancas； the father of the Princess； had been one of the lovers of Madame
de Maintenon。 No claim less powerful could have induced the latter to
take into her favour a person who was so little worthy。 Like all women
who know nothing but what chance has taught them； and who have long
languished in obscurity before arriving at splendour； Madame de Maintenon
was dazzled by the very name of Princess； even if assumed： as to a real
Princess； nothing equalled her in her opinion。 The Princess then tried
hard to get the Prince invited to Marly； but without success。 Upon this
she pretended to sulk； in hopes that Madame de Maintenon would exert all
her influence； but in this she was mistaken。 The Prince accordingly by
degrees got disgusted with the Court； and retired into the provinces for
a time。
The Princesse d'Harcourt was a sort of personage whom it is good to make
known； in order better to lay bare a Court which did not scruple to
receive such as she。 She had once been beautiful and gay； but though not
old； all h