Gamaches had been to the army with the Duc do Bourgogne, and being a free-tongued man had often spoken out very sharply on the puerilities in which he indulged in company with the Duc de Berry, influenced by his example.  One day returning from mass, in company with the Duke on a critical day, when he would rather have seen him on horseback; he said aloud, “You will certainly win the kingdom of heaven; but as for the kingdom of the earth, Prince Eugene and Marlborough know how to seek it better than you.”  What he said quite as publicly to the two Princes on their treatment of the King of England, was admirable.  That Prince (known as the Chevalier de Saint George) served incognito, with a modesty that the Princes took advantage of to treat him with the greatest indifference and contempt.  Towards the end of the campaign, Gamaches, exasperated with their conduct, exclaimed to them in the presence of everybody:  “Is this a wager? speak frankly; if so, you have won, there can be no doubt of that; but now, speak a little to the Chevalier de Saint George, and treat him more politely.”  These sallies, however, were too public to produce any good effect.  They were suffered, but not attended to.

The citadel of Lille capitulated as we have seen, with the consent of the King, who was obliged to acknowledge that the Marechal de Boufflers had done all he could, and that further defence was impossible.  Prince Eugene treated Boufflers with the greatest possible consideration.  The enemy at this time made no secret of their intention to invest Ghent, which made the dispersal of our army the more shameful; but necessity commanded, for no more provisions were to be got.

M. de Vendome arrived at Versailles on the morning of December 15th, and saluted the King as he left table.  The King embraced him with a sort of enthusiasm that made his cabal triumph.  He monopolised all conversation during the dinner, but only trifles were talked of.  The King said he would talk to him next day at Madame de Maintenon’s.  This delay, which was new to him, did not seem of good augury.  He went to pay his respects to M. de Bourgogne, who received him well in spite of all that had passed.  Then Vendome went to wait on Monseigneur at the Princesse de Coriti’s:  here he thought himself in his stronghold.  He was received excellently, and the conversation turned on nothings.  He wished to take advantage of this, and proposed a visit to Anet.  His surprise and that of those present were great at the uncertain reply of Monseigneur, who caused it to be understood, and rather stiffly too, that he would not go.  Vendome appeared embarrassed, and abridged his visit.  I met him at the end of the gallery of the new wing, as I was coming from M. de Beauvilliers, turning towards the steps in the middle of the gallery.  He was alone, without torches or valets, with Alberoni, followed by a man I did not know.  I saw him by the light of my torches; we saluted each other politely, though we had not much acquaintance one with the other.  He seemed chagrined, and was going to M. du Maine, his counsel and principal support.