of a master, told Voysin to learn, once for all, that his duties were to receive, and expedite orders, nothing else.  He then took the projects brought to him, examined them, prescribed the measures he thought fit, and very stiffly sent away Voysin, who did not know where he was, and had great want of his wife to set his head to rights, and of Madame de Maintenon to give him completer lessons than she had yet been able to do.  Shortly afterwards he was forbidden to send any orders without submitting them to the Marechal de Boufflers.  He was supple, and sure of Madame de Maintenon, and through her of the Marechal, waited for time to release him from this state of tutelage and showed nothing of his annoyance, especially to Boufflers himself.

Events soon happened to alter the position of the Marechal de Boufflers.

Flanders, ever since the opening of the campaign, had been the principal object of attention.  Prince Eugene and Marlborough, joined together, continued their vast designs, and disdained to hide them.  Their prodigious preparations spoke of sieges.  Shall I say that we desired them, and that we thought of nothing but how to preserve, not use our army?

Tournai was the first place towards which the enemies directed their arms.  After a short resistance it fell into their hands.  Villars, as I have said, was coriander in Flanders.  Boufflers feeling that, in the position of affairs, such a post must weigh very heavily upon one man, and that in case of his death there was no one to take his place, offered to go to assist him.  The King, after some little hesitation, accepted this magnanimous offer, and Boufflers set out.  I say magnanimous offer, because Boufflers, loaded with honours and glory, might well have hoped to pass the rest of his life in repose.  It was hardly possible, do what he might, that he could add to his reputation; while, on the other hand, it was not unlikely that he might be made answerable for the faults or shortcomings of others, and return to Paris stripped of some of the laurels that adorned his brow.  But he thought only of the welfare of the State, and pressed the King to allow him to depart to Flanders.  The King, as I have said, at last consented.

The surprise was great in the army when he arrived there.  The general impression was that he was the bearer of news of peace.  Villars received him with an air of joy and respect, and at once showed every willingness to act in concert with him.  The two generals accordingly worked harmoniously together, taking no steps without consulting each other, and showing great deference for each other’s opinions.  They were like one man.

[Illustration:  Marlborough At Malplaquet—­Painted by R. Canton Woodville—­596]