The people joined in this enthusiasm, both in Versailles and at Paris, where he went under pretence of going to the opera.  As he passed along the streets crowds collected to cheer him; they billed him at the doors, and every seat was taken in advance; people pushed and squeezed everywhere, and the price of admission was doubled, as on the nights of first performances.  Vendome, who received all these homages with extreme ease, was yet internally surprised by a folly so universal.  He feared that all this heat would not last out even the short stay he intended to make.  To keep himself more in reserve, he asked and obtained permission to go to Anet, in the intervals between the journeys to Marly.  All the Court, however, followed him there, and the King was pleased rather than otherwise, at seeing Versailles half deserted for Anet, actually asking some if they had been, others, when they intended to go.

It was evident that every one had resolved to raise M. de Vendome to the rank of a hero.  He determined to profit by the resolution.  If they made him Mars, why should he not act as such?  He claimed to be appointed commander of the Marechals of France, and although the King refused him this favour, he accorded him one which was but the stepping-stone to it.  M. de Vendome went away towards the middle of March to command the army in Italy, with a letter signed by the King himself, promising him that if a Marechal of France were sent to Italy, that Marechal was to take commands from him.  M. de Vendome was content, and determined to obtain all he asked on a future day.  The disposition of the armies had been arranged just before.  Tesse, for Catalonia and Spain; Berwick, for the frontier of Portugal; Marechal Villars, for Alsace; Marsin, for the Moselle; Marechal de Villeroy, for Flanders; and M. de Vendome, as I have said, for Italy.

Now that I am speaking of the armies, let me give here an account of all our military operations this year, so as to complete that subject at once.

M. de Vendome commenced his Italian campaign by a victory.  He attacked the troops of Prince Eugene upon the heights of Calcinato, drove them before him, killed three thousand men, took twenty standards, ten pieces of cannon, and eight thousand prisoners.  It was a rout rather than a combat.  The enemy was much inferior in force to us, and was without its general, Prince Eugene, he not having returned to open the campaign.  He came back, however, the day after this engagement, soon re-established order among his troops, and M. de Vendome from that time, far from being able to recommence the attack, was obliged to keep strictly on the defensive while he remained in Italy.  He did not fail to make the most of his victory, which, however, to say the truth, led to nothing.