Catinat often complained of this:  he sent word of it to the Court, but without daring to draw any conclusion from what happened.  Nobody sustained him at Court, for Vaudemont had everybody in his favour.  He captured our general officers by his politeness, his magnificence, and, above all, by presenting them with abundant supplies.  All the useful, and the agreeable, came from his side; all the dryness, all the exactitude, came from Catinat.  It need not be asked which of the two had all hearts.  In fine, Tesse and Vaudemont carried out their schemes so well that Catinat could do nothing.

While these schemes were going on, the Imperialists were enabled to gain time, to strengthen themselves, to cross the rivers without obstacle, to, approach us; and, acquainted with everything as they were, to attack a portion of our army on the 9th July, at Capri, with five regiments of cavalry and dragoons.  Prince Eugene led this attack without his coming being in the least degree suspected, and fell suddenly upon our troops.  Tesse, who was in the immediate neighbourhood with some dragoons, advanced rapidly upon hearing this, but only with a few dragoons.  A long resistance was made, but at last retreat became necessary.  It was accomplished in excellent order, and without disturbance from the enemy; but our loss was very great, many officers of rank being among the dead.

Such was our first exploit in Italy; all the fault of which was attributed to Catinat.  Tesse and Vaudemont did everything in their power to secure his disgrace.  The King, indeed, thus prejudiced against Catinat, determined to take from him the command, and appointed the Marechal de Villeroy as his successor.  The surprise of everybody at this was very great, for no one expected that the Marechal de Villeroy would repair the fault of Catinat.  On the evening of his appointment, this general was exposed in a very straightforward and public manner by M. de Duras.  He did not like the Marechal de Villeroy; and, while everybody else was applauding, took the Marechal by the arm, and said, “Monsieur le Marechal, everybody is paying you compliments upon your departure to Italy, I keep mine until you return;” and then, bursting out laughing, he looked round upon the company.  Villeroy remained confounded, without offering a word.  Everybody smiled and looked down.  The King took no notice.

Catinat, when the command was taken out of his hands by the Marechal de Villeroy, made himself admired on every side by the moderation and tranquillity with which he conducted himself.  If Vaudemont was satisfied with the success of his schemes, it was far otherwise with Tesse, who had merely intrigued against Catinat for the purpose of obtaining the command of the army.  He did all in his power to ingratiate himself into the favour of the Marechal de Villeroy; but the Marechal received these advances very coldly.  Tesse’s schemes against Catinat were beginning