CHAPTER XXIII
Scandalous Adventure of the Abbesse de la Joye.—Anecdote of Madame de Saint-Herem.—Death of James II. and Recognition of His Son.—Alliance against France.—Scene at St. Maur.—Balls and Plays.—The “Electra” of Longepierre—Romantic Adventures of the Abbe de Vatterville.
CHAPTER XXIV
Changes in the Army.—I Leave the Service.—Annoyance
of the King.—The
Medallic History of the Reign.—Louis XIII.—Death
of William III.—
Accession of Queen Anne.—The Alliance Continued.—Anecdotes
of Catinat.
—Madame de Maintenon and the King.
Volume4.
CHAPTER XXV
Anecdote of Canaples.—Death of the Duc
de Coislin.—Anecdotes of His
Unbearable Politeness.—Eccentric Character.—President
de Novion.—
Death of M. de Lorges.—Death of the Duchesse
de Gesvres.
CHAPTER XXVI
The Prince d’Harcourt.—His Character
and That of His Wife.—Odd Court
Lady.—She Cheats at Play.—Scene
at Fontainebleau.—Crackers at Marly.—
Snowballing a Princess.—Strange Manners
of Madame d’Harcourt.—
Rebellion among Her Servants.—A Vigorous
Chambermaid.
CHAPTER XXVII
Madame des Ursins.—Her Marriage and Character.—The
Queen of Spain.—
Ambition of Madame de Maintenon.—Coronation
of Philip V.—A Cardinal
Made Colonel.—Favourites of Madame des
Ursins.—Her Complete Triumph.—
A Mistake.—A Despatch Violated.—Madame
des Ursins in Disgrace.
CHAPTER XXVIII
Appointment of the Duke of Berwick.—Deception Practised by Orry.—Anger of Louis XIV.—Dismissal of Madame des Ursins.—Her Intrigues to Return. —Annoyance of the King and Queen of Spain.—Intrigues at Versailles.— Triumphant Return of Madame des Ursins to Court.—Baseness of the Courtiers.—Her Return to Spain Resolved On.
CHAPTER XXIX
An Honest Courtier.—Robbery of Courtin
and Fieubet.—An Important
Affair.—My Interview with the King.—His
Jealousy of His Authority.—
Madame La Queue, the King’s Daughter.—Battle
of Blenheim or Hochstedt.—
Our Defeat.—Effect of the News on the King.—Public
Grief and Public
Rejoicing.—Death of My Friend Montfort.
CHAPTER XXX
Naval Battle of Malaga.—Danger of Gibraltar.—Duke of Mantua in Search of a Wife.—Duchesse de Lesdiguieres.—Strange Intrigues.—Mademoiselle d’Elboeuf Carries off the Prize.—A Curious Marriage.—Its Result.— History of a Conversion to Catholicism.—Attempted Assassination. — Singular Seclusion