The Memoirs of Count Grammont — Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 384 pages of information about The Memoirs of Count Grammont — Complete.

The Memoirs of Count Grammont — Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 384 pages of information about The Memoirs of Count Grammont — Complete.

Every man possessed of such amiable qualities must meet with success in all his undertakings.  The soldiers knew his person, and adored him.  The generals were sure to meet him in every scene of action, and sought his company at other times.  As soon as fortune declared for him, his first care was to make restitution, by desiring Cameran to go his halves in all parties where the odds were in his favour.

An inexhaustible fund of vivacity and good humour gave a certain air of novelty to whatever he either said or did.  I know not on what occasion it was that Monsieur de Turenne towards the end of the siege, commanded a separate body.  The Chevalier de Grammont went to visit him at his new quarters, where he found fifteen or twenty officers.  M. de Turenne was naturally fond of merriment, and the Chevalier’s presence was sure to inspire it.  He was much pleased with this visit, and, by way of acknowledgment, would have engaged him to play.  The Chevalier de Grammont, in returning him thanks, said, that he had learned from his tutor, that when a man went to see his friends, it was neither prudent to leave his own money behind him, nor civil to carry off theirs.  “Truly,” said Monsieur de Turenne, “you will find neither deep play nor much money among us; but, that it may not be said that we suffered you to depart without playing, let us stake every one a horse.”

The Chevalier de Grammont agreed.  Fortune, who had followed him to a place where he did not think he should have any need of her, made him win fifteen or sixteen horses, by way of joke; but, seeing some countenances disconcerted at the loss, “Gentlemen,” said he, “I should be sorry to see you return on foot from your general’s quarters; it will be enough for me if you send me your horses to-morrow, except one, which I give for the cards.”

The valet-de-chambre thought he was bantering.  “I speak seriously,” said the Chevalier, “I give you a horse for the cards; and, what is more, take whichever you please, except my own.”  “Truly,” said Monsieur de Turenne, “I am vastly pleased with the novelty of the thing; for I don’t believe that a horse was ever before given for the cards.”

Trino surrendered at last.  The Baron de Batteville, who had defended it valiantly, and for a long time, obtained a capitulation worthy of such a resistance.

[This officer appears to have been the same person who was afterwards ambassador from Spain to the court of Great Britain, where, in the summer of 1660, he offended the French court, by claiming precedence of their ambassador, Count d’Estrades, on the public entry of the Swedish ambassador into London.  On this occasion the court of France compelled its rival of Spain to submit to the mortifying circumstance of acknowledging the French superiority.  To commemorate this important victory, Louis XIV. caused a medal to be struck, representing the Spanish ambassador, the Marquis de Fuente, making the declaration
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The Memoirs of Count Grammont — Complete from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.