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with her own hand upon the margin of the letter； 'Pour mariee non'
（〃At any rate； not married〃）； showed it in this state to the King and
Queen of Spain； to a number of other people； always with strange
clamouring； and finally crowned her folly by sending it to the King
（Louis XIV。）； with furious complaints against the Abbe for writing it
without her knowledge； and for inflicting upon her such an atrocious
injury as to mention this pretended marriage。 Her letter and its
enclosure reached the King at a very inopportune moment。 Just before；
he had received a letter； which； taken in connection with this of the
Princesse des Ursins； struck a blow at her power of the most decisive
kind。
CHAPTER XXVIII
Some little time previously it had been thought necessary to send an army
to the frontiers of Portugal to oppose the Archduke。 A French general
was wanted to command this army。 Madame des Ursins； who had been very
intimate with the King of England （James II。） and his Queen； thought she
would please them if she gave this post to the Duke of Berwick；
illegitimate son of King James。 She proposed this therefore； and our
King； out of regard for his brother monarch； and from a natural affection
for bastards； consented to the appointment； but as the Duke of Berwick
had never before commanded an army； he stipulated that Pursegur； known to
be a skilful officer； should go with him and assist him with his counsels
and advice。
Pursegur set out before the Duke of Berwick。 From the Pyrenees as far as
Madrid； he found every provision made for the subsistence of the French
troops； and sent a very advantageous account to the King of this
circumstance。 Arrived at Madrid； he had interviews with Orry （who； as I
have already mentioned； had the finances under his control； and who was a
mere instrument in the hands of Madame des Ursins）； and was assured by
the minister that all the magazines along the line of route to the
frontiers of Portugal were abundantly filled with supplies for the French
troops； that all the money necessary was ready； and that nothing； in
fact； should fail in the course of the campaign。 Pursegur； who had found
nothing wanting up to that time； never doubted but that these statements
were perfectly correct； and had no suspicion that a minister would have
the effrontery to show him in detail all these precautions if he had
taken none。 Pleased； then； to the utmost degree； he wrote to the King in
praise of Orry； and consequently of Madame des Ursins and her wise
government。 Full of these ideas； he set out for the frontier of Portugal
to reconnoitre the ground himself； and arrange everything for the arrival
of the army and its general。 What was his surprise； when he found that
from Madrid to the frontier not a single preparation had been made for
the troops； and that in consequence all that Orry had shown him； drawn
out upon paper； was utterly fictitious。 His vexation upon finding that
nothing upon which he had reckoned was provided； may be imagined。 He at
once wrote to the King； in order to contradict all that he had recently
written。
This conduct of Orryhis impudence； I may sayin deceiving a man who
immediately after would have under his eyes the proof of his deceit； is a
thing past all comprehension。 It is easy to understand that rogues
should steal； but not that they should have the audacity to do so in the
face of facts which so quickly and so easily could prove their villainy。
It was Pursegur's letter then； detailing this rascality on the part of
Orry； that had reached the King just before that respecting the Abbe
d'Estrees。 The two disclosed a state of things that could not be allowed
any longer to exist。 Our ministers； who； step by step； had been deprived
of all control over the affairs of Spain； profited by the discontentment
of the King to reclaim their functions。 Harcourt and Madame de Maintenon
did all they could to ward off the blow from Madame des Ursins； but
without effect。 The King determined to banish her to Rome and to dismiss
Orry from his post。
It was felt； however； that these steps must be taken cautiously； to avoid
offending too deeply the King and Queen of Spain； who supported their
favourite through every emergency。
In the first place； then； a simple reprimand was sent to the Princesse
des Ursins for the violation of the respect due to the King； by opening a
letter addressed to him by one of his ambassadors。 The Abbe d'Estrees；
who expected that Madame des Ursins would be at once disgraced； and who
had made a great outcry when his letter was opened； fell into such
despair when he saw how lightly she was let off； that he asked for his
dismissal。 He was taken at his word； and this was a new triumph for
Madame des Ursins； who thought herself more secure than ever。 Her
triumph was of but short duration。 The King wrote to Philip；
recommending him to head in person the army for the frontiers of
Portugal； which； in spite of Orry's deception； it was still determined to
send。 No sooner was Philip fairly away； separated from the Queen and
Madame des Ursins； and no longer under their influence； than the King
wrote to the Queen of Spain； requesting her； in terms that could not be
disputed； to dismiss at once and for ever her favourite 'Camerera Mayor'。
The Queen； in despair at the idea of losing a friend and adviser to whom
she had been so much attached； believed herself lost。 At the same time
that the King wrote to the Queen of Spain； he also wrote to the Princesse
des Ursins； ordering her to quit Madrid immediately； to leave Spain； and
to retire into Italy。
At this conjuncture of affairs； when the Queen was in despair； Madame des
Ursins did not lose her composure。 She opened her eyes to all that had
passed since she had violated D'Estrees' letter； and saw the vanity of
the triumph she had recently enjoyed。 She felt at once that for the
present all was lost； that her only hope was to be allowed to remain in
France。 She made all her arrangements； therefore； so that affairs might
proceed in her absence as much as possible as though she were present；
and then prepared to set out。 Dawdling day by day； she put off her
departure as long as could be； and when at length she left Madrid only
went to Alcala； a few leagues distant。 She stopped there under various
pretexts； and at length； after five weeks of delay； set out for Bayonne；
journeying as slowly as she could and stopping as often as she dared。
She lost no opportunity of demanding an audience at Versailles； in order
to clear herself of the charge which weighed upon her； and her
importunities at length were not without effect。 The most terrible
storms at Court soon blow over。 The King （Louis XIV。） was satisfied with
the success of his plans。 He had been revenged in every way； and had
humbled the pride of the Princesse des Ursins。 It was not necessary to
excite the anger of the Queen and King of Spain by too great harshness
against their fallen friend。 Madame de Maintenon took advantage of this
change in the temper of the King； and by dint of persuasion and scheming
succeeded in obtaining from him the permission for Madame de