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she grafted thereon an immense conceit； caused by the favour of Madame de
Maintenon。 To complete the household； came M。 de Fontaine…Martel； poor
and gouty； who was first master of the horse。
On the Monday before Shrove Tuesday； all the marriage party and the bride
and bridegroom； superbly dressed； repaired； a little before mid…day； to
the closet of the King； and afterwards to the chapel。 It was arranged；
as usual； for the Mass of the King； excepting that between his place and
the altar were two cushions for the bride and bridegroom； who turned
their backs to the King。 Cardinal de Bouillon； in full robes； married
them； and said Mass。 From the chapel all the company went to table： it
was of horse…shoe shape。 The Princes and Princesses of the blood were
placed at the right and at the left； according to their rank； terminated
by the two illegitimate children of the King； and； for the first time；
after them； the Duchesse de Verneuil； so that M。 de Verneuil；
illegitimate son of Henry IV。； became thus 〃Prince of the blood〃 so many
years after his death； without having ever suspected it。 The Duc d'Uzes
thought this so amusing that he marched in front of the Duchess； crying
out； as loud as he could〃Place； place for Madame Charlotte Seguier！〃
In the afternoon the King and Queen of England came to Versailles with
their Court。 There was a great concert； and the play…tables were set
out。 The supper was similar to the dinner。 Afterwards the married
couple were led into the apartment of the new Duchesse de Chartres。 The
Queen of England gave the Duchess her chemise； and the shirt of the Duke
was given to him by the King； who had at first refused on the plea that
he was in too unhappy circumstances。 The benediction of the bed was
pronounced by the Cardinal de Bouillon； who kept us all waiting for a
quarter of an hour； which made people say that such airs little became a
man returned as he was from a long exile； to which he had been sent
because he had had the madness to refuse the nuptial benediction to
Madame la Duchesse unless admitted to the royal banquet。
On Shrove Tuesday； there was a grand toilette of the Duchesse de
Chartres； to which the King and all the Court came； and in the evening a
grand ball； similar to that which had just taken place； except that the
new Duchesse de Chartres was led out by the Duc de Bourgogne。 Every one
wore the same dress； and had the same partner as before。
I cannot pass over in silence a very ridiculous adventure which occurred
at both of these balls。 A son of Montbron； no more made to dance at
Court than his father was to be chevalier of the order （to which however；
he was promoted in 1688）； was among the company。 He had been asked if he
danced well； and he had replied with a confidence which made every one
hope that the contrary was the case。 Every one was satisfied。 From the
very first bow； he became confused； and he lost step at once。 He tried
to divert attention from his mistake by affected attitudes； and carrying
his arms high； but this made him only more ridiculous； and excited bursts
of laughter； which； in despite of the respect due to the person of the
King （who likewise had great difficulty to hinder himself from laughing）；
degenerated at length into regular hooting。 On the morrow； instead of
flying the Court or holding his tongue； he excused himself by saying that
the presence of the King had disconcerted him； and promised marvels for
the ball which was to follow。 He was one of my friends； and I felt for
him； I should even have warned him against a second attempt； if the very
indifferent success I had met with had not made me fear that my advice
would be taken in ill part。 As soon as he began to dance at the second
ball； those who were near stood up； those who were far off climbed
wherever they could get a sight； and the； shouts of laughter were mingled
with clapping of hands。 Every one； even the King himself； laughed
heartily； and most of us quite loud； so that I do not think any one was
ever treated so before。 Montbron disappeared immediately afterwards； and
did not show himself again for a long time； It was a pity he exposed
himself to this defeat； for he was an honourable and brave man。
Ash Wednesday put an end to all these sad rejoicings by command； and only
the expected rejoicings were spoken of。 M。 du Maine wished to marry。
The King tried to turn him from it； and said frankly to him； that it was
not for such as he to make a lineage。 But pressed M。 by Madame de
Maintenon； who had educated Maine； and who felt for him as a nurse the
King resolved to marry him to a daughter of the Prince de Conde。 The
Prince was greatly pleased at the project。 He had three daughters for
M。 du Maine to choose from： all three were extremely little。 An inch of
height； that the second had above the others； procured for her the
preference； much to the grief of the eldest； who was beautiful and
clever； and who dearly wished to escape from the slavery in which her
father kept her。 The dignity with which she bore her disappointment was
admired by every one； but it cost her an effort that ruined her health。
The marriage once arranged； was celebrated on the 19th of March； much in
the same manner as had been that of the Duc de Chartres。 Madame de
Saint…Vallery was appointed lady of honour to Madame du Maine； and M。 de
Montchevreuil gentleman of the chamber。 This last had been one of the
friends of Madame de Maintenon when she was Madame Scarron。
Montchevreuil was a very honest man； modest； brave； but thick…headed。
His wife was a tall creature； meagre； and yellow； who laughed sillily；
and showed long and ugly teeth； who was extremely devout； of a compassed
mien； and who only wanted a broomstick to be a perfect witch。 Without
possessing any wit； she had so captivated Madame de Maintenon； that the
latter saw only with her eyes。 All the ladies of the Court were under
her surveillance： they depended upon her for their distinctions； and
often for their fortunes。 Everybody； from the ministers to the daughters
of the King； trembled before her。 The King himself showed her the most
marked consideration。 She was of all the Court journeys； and always with
Madame de Maintenon。
The marriage of M。 du Maine caused a rupture between the Princess de
Conde and the Duchess of Hanover her sister； who had strongly desired
M。 du Maine for one of her daughters； and who pretended that the Prince
de Conde had cut the grass from under her feet。 She lived in Paris；
making a display quite unsuited to her rank； and had even carried it so
far as to go about with two coaches and many liveried servants。 With
this state one day she met in the streets the coach of Madame de
Bouillon； which the servants of the German woman forced to give way to
their mistress's。 The Bouillons； piqued to excess； resolved to be
revenged。 One day； when they knew the Duchess was going to the play；
they went there attended by a numerous livery。 Their servants had orders
to pick a quarrel with those of the Duchess。 They executed these orders
completely； the servants of the Duchess were thoroughly thrashedthe
harness of her horses cuther coaches maltreated。 The Duchess made a
great fuss； and complained to the King； but he would not mix himself in
the matter。 She was so outraged； that she resolved to retire into
Germany； and in a very few months did so。
My year of service in the Musketeers being over； the King； after a time；
gave me； without purchase； a company of cavalry in the Royal Roussillon；
in garrison at Mons； and just then very incomplete。 I thanked the King；
who replied to me very obligingly。 The company was entirely made up in a
fortnight。 This was towards the middle of April。
A little before； that is； on the 27th of March； the King made seven new
marechals of France。 They were the Comte de Choiseul； the Duc de
Villeroy； the Marquis de Joyeuse； Tourville； the Duc de Noailles； the
Marquis de Boufllers； and Catinat。 These promotions caused very great
discontent。 Complaint was more especially made that the Duc de Choiseul
had not been named。 The cause of his exclusion is curious。 His wife；
beautiful； with the form of a goddessnotorious for the number of her
gallantrieswas very intimate with the Princess de Conti。 The King； not
liking such a companion for his daughter； gave the Duc de Choiseul to
understand that the public disorders of the Duchess offended him。 If the
Duke would send her into a convent； the Marechal's baton would be his。
The Duc de Choiseul； indignant that the reward of his services in the war
was attached to a domestic affair which concerned himself alone； refused
promotion on such terms。 He thus lost the baton； and； what was worse for
him； the Duchess soon after was driven from Court； and so misbehaved
herself； that at last he could endure her no longer； drove her away
himself； and separated from her for ever。
Mademoiselle la grande Mademoiselle； as she was called； to distinguish
her from the daughter of Monsieuror to call her by her name；
Mademoiselle de Montpensier； died on Sunday the 5th of April； at her
palace in the Luxembourg； sixty…three years of age； and the riche