the design of the testator to produce this idea.  He made the notaries wait; then allowed them to enter, and dictated his will, which was a death-blow to Madame de Biron.  Nevertheless, he delayed signing it, and finding himself better and better, did not sign it at all.  He was much diverted with this farce, and could not restrain his laughter at it, when reestablished.  Despite his age, and the gravity of his illness, he was promptly cured and restored to his usual health.

He was internally as strong as a lion, though externally very delicate.  He dined and supped very heartily every day of an excellent and very delicate cheer, always with good company, evening and morning; eating of everything, ‘gras’ and ‘maigre’, with no choice except that of his taste and no moderation.  He took chocolate in the morning, and had always on the table the fruits in season, and biscuits; at other times beer, cider, lemonade, and other similar drinks iced; and as he passed to and fro, ate and drank at this table every afternoon, exhorting others to do the same.  In this way he left table or the fruit, and immediately went to bed.

I recollect that once, among others, he ate at my house, after his illness, so much fish, vegetables, and all sorts of things (I having no power to hinder him), that in the evening we quietly sent to learn whether he had not felt the effects of them.  He was found at table eating with good appetite.

His gallantry was long faithful to him.  Mademoiselle was jealous of it, and that often controlled him.  I have heard Madame de Fontenelles ( a very enviable woman, of much intelligence, very truthful, and of singular virtue), I have heard her say, that being at Eu with Mademoiselle, M. de Lauzun came there and could not desist from running after the girls; Mademoiselle knew it, was angry, scratched him, and drove him from her presence.  The Comtesse de Fiesque reconciled them.  Mademoiselle appeared at the end of a long gallery; Lauzun was at the other end, and he traversed the whole length of it on his knees until he reached the feet of Mademoiselle.  These scenes, more or less moving, often took place afterwards.  Lauzun allowed himself to be beaten, and in his turn soundly beat Mademoiselle; and this happened several times, until at last, tired of each other, they quarrelled once for all and never saw each other again; he kept several portraits of her, however, in his house or upon him, and never spoke of her without much respect.  Nobody doubted they had been secretly married.  At her death he assumed a livery almost black, with silver lace; this he changed into white with a little blue upon gold, when silver was prohibited upon liveries.