My marriage being agreed upon and arranged the Marechal de Lorges spoke of it to the King, who had the goodness to reply to him that he could not do better, and to speak of me very obligingly.  The marriage accordingly took place at the Hotel de Lorges, on the 8th of April, 1695, which I have always regarded, and with good reason, as the happiest day of my life.  My mother treated me like the best mother in the world.  On the Thursday before Quasimodo the contract was signed; a grand repast followed; at midnight the cure of Saint Roch said mass, and married us in the chapel of the house.  On the eve, my mother had sent forty thousand livres’ worth of precious stones to Mademoiselle de Lorges, and I six hundred Louis in a corbeille filled with all the knick-knacks that are given on these occasions.

We slept in the grand apartment of the Hotel des Lorges.  On the morrow, after dinner, my wife went to bed, and received a crowd of visitors, who came to pay their respects and to gratify their curiosity.  The next evening we went to Versailles, and were received by Madame de Maintenon and the King.  On arriving at the supper-table, the King said to the new Duchess:—­“Madame, will you be pleased to seat yourself?”

His napkin being unfolded, he saw all the duchesses and princesses still standing; and rising in his chair, he said to Madame de Saint-Simon—­ “Madame, I have already begged you to be seated;” and all immediately seated themselves.  On the morrow, Madame de Saint-Simon received all the Court in her bed in the apartment of the Duchesse d’Arpajon, as being more handy, being on the ground floor.  Our festivities finished by a supper that I gave to the former friends of my father, whose acquaintance I had always cultivated with great care.

Almost immediately after my marriage the second daughter of the Marechal de Lorges followed in the footsteps of her sister.  She was fifteen years of age, and at the reception of Madame de Saint-Simon had attracted the admiration of M. de Lauzun, who was then sixty-three.  Since his return to the Court he had been reinstated in the dignity he had previously held.  He flattered himself that by marrying the daughter of a General he should re-open a path to himself for command in the army.  Full of this idea he spoke to M. de Lorges, who was by no means inclined towards the marriage.  M. de Lauzun offered, however, to marry without dowry; and M. de Lorges, moved by this consideration, assented to his wish.  The affair concluded, M. de Lorges spoke of it to the King.  “You are bold,” said his Majesty, “to take Lauzun into your family.  I hope you may not repent of it.”