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into Germany。 The surprise of the Marechal de Luxembourg was without
bounds。 He represented the facility with which the Prince of Orange
might now be beaten with one army and pursued by another； and how
important it was to draw off detachments of the Imperial forces from
Germany into Flanders； and how； by sending an army into Flanders instead
of Germany； the whole of the Low Countries would be in our power。 But
the King would not change his plans； although M。 de Luxembourg went down
on his knees and begged him not to allow such a glorious opportunity to
escape。 Madame de Maintenon； by her tears when she parted from his
Majesty； and by her letters since； had brought about this resolution。
The news had not spread on the morrow； June 9th。 I chanced to go alone
to the quarters of M。 de Luxembourg； and was surprised to find not a soul
there； every one had gone to the King's army。 Pensively bringing my
horse to a stand； I was ruminating on a fact so strange； and debating
whether I should return to my tent or push on to the royal camp； when up
came M。 le Prince de Conti with a single page and a groom leading a
horse。 〃What are you doing there？〃 cried he； laughing at my surprise。
Thereupon he told me he was going to say adieu to the King； and advised
me to do likewise。 〃What do you mean by saying Adieu？〃 answered I。
He sent his servants to a little distance； and begged me to do the same；
and with shouts of laughter told me about the King's retreat； making
tremendous fun of him； despite my youth； for he had confidence in me。
I was astonished。 We soon after met the whole company coming back；
and the great people went aside to talk and sneer。 I then proceeded to
pay my respects to the King； by whom I was honourably received。
Surprise； however； was expressed by all faces； and indignation by some。
The effect of the King's retreat； indeed； was incredible； even amongst
the soldiers and the people。 The general officers could not keep silent
upon it； and the inferior officers spoke loudly； with a license that
could not be restrained。 All through the army； in the towns； and even at
Court； it was talked about openly。 The courtiers； generally so glad to
find themselves again at Versailles； now declared that they were ashamed
to be there； as for the enemy； they could not contain their surprise and
joy。 The Prince of Orange said that the retreat was a miracle he could
not have hoped for； that he could scarcely believe in it； but that it had
saved his army； and the whole of the Low Countries。 In the midst of all
this excitement the King arrived with the ladies； on the 25th of June； at
Versailles。
We gained some successes； however； this year。 Marechal de Villeroy took
Huy in three days； losing only a sub…engineer and some soldiers。 On the
29th of July we attacked at dawn the Prince of Orange at Neerwinden； and
after twelve hours of hard fighting； under a blazing sun； entirely routed
him。 I was of the third squadron of the Royal Roussillon； and made five
charges。 One of the gold ornaments of my coat was torn away； but I
received no wound。 During the battle our brigadier； Quoadt； was killed
before my eyes。 The Duc de Feuillade became thus commander of the
brigade。 We missed him immediately； and for more than half an hour saw
nothing of him； he had gone to make his toilette。 When he returned he
was powdered and decked out in a fine red surtotxt； embroidered with
silver； and all his trappings and those of his horse were magnificent； he
acquitted himself with distinction。
Our cavalry stood so well against the fire from the enemy's guns； that
the Prince of Orange lost all patience； and turning away； exclaimed
〃Oh； the insolent nation！〃 He fought until the last； and retired with
the Elector of Hanover only when he saw there was no longer any hope。
After the battle my people brought us a leg of mutton and a bottle of
wine； which they had wisely saved from the previous evening； and we
attacked them in good earnest； as may be believed。
The enemy lost about twenty thousand men； including a large number of
officers； our loss was not more than half that number。 We took all their
cannon； eight mortars； many artillery waggons； a quantity of standards；
and some pairs of kettle…drums。 The victory was complete。
Meanwhile； the army which had been sent to Germany under the command of
Monseigneur and of the Marechal de Lorges； did little or nothing。 The
Marechal wished to attack Heilbronn； but Monseigneur was opposed to it；
and； to the great regret of the principal generals and of the troops； the
attack was not made。 Monseigneur returned early to Versailles。
At sea we were more active。 The rich merchant fleet of Smyrna was
attacked by Tourville； fifty vessels were burnt or sunk； and twenty…seven
taken； all richly freighted。 This campaign cost the English and Dutch
dear。 It is believed their loss was more than thirty millions of ecus。
The season finished with the taking of Charleroy。 On the 16th of
September the Marechal de Villeroy； supported by M。 de Luxembourg； laid
siege to it； and on the 11th of October； after a good defence； the place
capitulated。 Our loss was very slight。 Charleroy taken； our troops went
into winter…quarters； and I returned to Court； like the rest。 The roads
and the posting service were in great disorder。 Amongst other adventures
I met with； I was driven by a deaf and dumb postillion； who stuck me fast
in the mud when near Quesnoy。 At Pont Saint…Maxence all the horses were
retained by M。 de Luxembourg。 Fearing I might be left behind； I told the
postmaster that I was governor （which was true）； and that I would put him
in jail if he did not give me horses。 I should have been sadly puzzled
how to do it； but he was simple enough to believe me； and gave the
horses。 I arrived； however； at last at Paris； and found a change at the
Court； which surprised me。
Daquinfirst doctor of the King and creature of Madame de Montespanhad
lost nothing of his credit by her removal； but had never been able to get
on well with Madame de Maintenon； who looked coldly upon all the friends
of her predecessor。 Daquin had a son； an abbe； and wearied the King with
solicitations on his behalf。 Madame de Maintenon seized the opportunity；
when the King was more than usually angry with Daquin； to obtain his
dismissal： it came upon him like a thunderbolt。 On the previous evening
the King had spoken to him for a long time as usual； and had never
treated him better。 All the Court was astonished also。 Fagon； a very
skilful and learned man； was appointed in his place at the instance of
Madame de Maintenon。
Another event excited less surprise than interest。 On Sunday； the 29th
of November； the King learned that La Vauguyon had killed himself in his
bed； that morning； by firing twice into his throat。 I must say a few
words about this Vauguyon。 He was one of the pettiest and poorest
gentlemen of France： he was well…made； but very swarthy； with Spanish
features； had a charming voice； played the guitar and lute very well； and
was skilled in the arts of gallantry。 By these talents he had succeeded；
in finding favour with Madame de Beauvais； much regarded at the Court as
having been the King's first mistress。 I have seen herold； blear…eyed；
and half blind；at the toilette of the Dauphiness of Bavaria； where
everybody courted her； because she was still much considered by the King。
Under this protection La Vauguyon succeeded well； was several times sent
as ambassador to foreign countries； was made councillor of state； and to
the scandal of everybody； was raised to the Order in 1688。 Of late
years； having no appointments； he had scarcely the means of living； and
endeavoured； but without success； to improve his condition。
Poverty by degrees turned his brain； but a long time passed before it was
perceived。 The first proof that he gave of it was at the house of Madame
Pelot； widow of the Chief President of the Rouen parliament。 Playing at
brelan one evening； she offered him a stake； and because he would not
accept it bantered him； and playfully called him a poltroon。 He said
nothing； but waited until all the rest of the company had left the room；
and when he found himself alone with Madame Pelot； he bolted the door；
clapped his hat on his head； drove her up against the chimney； and
holding her head between his two fists； said he knew no reason why he
should not pound it into a jelly； in order to teach her to call him
poltroon again。 The poor woman was horribly frightened； and made
perpendicular curtseys between his two fists； and all sorts of excuses。
At last he let her go； more dead than alive。 She had the generosity to
say no syllable of this occurrence until after his death； she even
allowed him to come to the house as usual； but took care never to be
alone with him。
One day； a long time after this； meeting； in a gallery； at Fontainebleau；
M。 de Courtenay； La Vauguyon drew his sword； and compelled the other to
draw also； although there had never been the slightest quarrel between
them。 They were soon separated and La Vauguyon immediately fled to the
King； who was just then in his private closet； wher