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to this he quarrelled openly with M。 de Richelieu； and made a bitter
attack upon him in one of his pleas。 But M。 de Richelieu； meeting him
soon after in the Salle des Gardes at Versailles； told him to his face
that he should soon have a reply； and said that he feared him neither on
horseback nor on footneither him nor his crewneither in town nor at
the Court； nor even in the army； nor in any place in the world； and
without allowing time for a reply he turned on his heel。 In the end； M。
de Luxembourg found himself so closely pressed that he was glad to
apologise to M。 de Richelieu。
After a time our cause； sent back again to the Parliament； was argued
there with the same vigour； the same partiality； and the same injustice
as before： seeing this； we felt that the only course left open to us was
to get the case sent before the Assembly of all the Chambers； where the
judges； from their number； could not be corrupted by M。 de Luxembourg；
and where the authority of Harlay was feeble； while over the Grand
Chambre； in which the case was at present； it was absolute。 The
difficulty was to obtain an assembly of all the Chambers； for the power
of summoning them was vested solely in Harlay。 However； we determined to
try and gain his consent。 M。 de Chaulnes undertook to go upon this
delicate errand； and acquitted himself well of his mission。 He pointed
out to Harlay that everybody was convinced of his leaning towards M。 de
Luxembourg； and that the only way to efface the conviction that had gone
abroad was to comply with our request； in fine； he used so many
arguments； and with such address； that Harlay； confused and thrown off
his guard； and repenting of the manner in which he had acted towards us
as being likely to injure his interests； gave a positive assurance to M。
de Chaulnes that what we asked should be granted。
We had scarcely finished congratulating ourselves upon this unhoped…for
success； when we found that we had to do with a man whose word was a very
sorry support to rest upon。 M。 de Luxembourg； affrighted at the promise
Harlay had given； made him resolve to break it。 Suspecting this； M。 de
Chaulnes paid another visit to the Chief President； who admitted； with
much confusion； that he had changed his views； and that it was impossible
to carry out what he had agreed to。 After this we felt that to treat any
longer with a man so perfidious would be time lost； and we determined；
therefore； to put it out of his power to judge the case at all。
According to the received maxim； whoever is at law with the son cannot be
judged by the father。 Harlay had a son who was Advocate…General。 We
resolved that one among us should bring an action against him。
After trying in vain to induce the Duc de Rohan； who was the only one of
our number who could readily have done it； to commence a suit against
Harlay's sort； we began to despair of arriving at our aim。 Fortunately
for us； the vexation of Harlay became so great at this time； in
consequence of the disdain with which we treated him； and which we openly
published； that he extricated us himself from our difficulty。 We had
only to supplicate the Duc de Gesvres in the cause （he said to some of
our people）； and we should obtain what we wanted； for the Duc de Gesvres
vas his relative。 We took him at his word。 The； Duc de Gesvres received
in two days a summons on our part。 Harlay； annoyed with himself for the
advice he had given； relented of it： but it was too late； he was declared
unable to judge the cause； and the case itself was postponed until the
next year。
Meanwhile； let me mention a circumstance which should have found a place
before； and then state what occurred in the interval which followed until
the trial recommenced。
It was while our proceedings were making some little stir that fresh
favours were heaped upon the King's illegitimate sons； at the instance of
the King himself； and with the connivance of Harlay； who； for the part he
took in the affair； was promised the chancellorship when it should become
vacant。 The rank of these illegitimate sons was placed just below that
of the princes； of the blood； and just above that of the peers even of
the oldest creation。 This gave us all exceeding annoyance： it was the
greatest injury the peerage could have received； and became its leprosy
and sore。 All the peers who could； kept themselves aloof from the
parliament； when M。 du Maine； M。 de Vendome； and the Comte de Toulouse；
for whom this arrangement was specially made； were received there。
There were several marriages at the Court this winter and many very fine
balls； at which latter I danced。 By the spring； preparations were ready
for fresh campaigns。 My regiment （I had bought one at the close of the
last season） was ordered to join the army of M。 de Luxembourg； but； as I
had no desire to be under him； I wrote to the King； begging to be
exchanged。 In a short time； to the great vexation； as I know； of M。 de
Luxembourg； my request was granted。 The Chevalier de Sully went to
Flanders in my place； and I to Germany in his。 I went first to Soissons
to see my regiment； and in consequence of the recommendation of the King；
was more severe with it than I should otherwise have been。 I set out
afterwards for Strasbourg； where I was surprised with the magnificence of
the town； and with the number； beauty； and grandeur of its
fortifications。 As from my youth I knew and spoke German perfectly； I
sought out one of my early German acquaintances； who gave me much
pleasure。 I stopped six days at Strasbourg and then went by the Rhine to
Philipsburg。 On the next day after arriving there； I joined the cavalry；
which was encamped at Obersheim。
After several movementsin which we passed and repassed the Rhinebut
which led to no effective result； we encamped for forty days at Gaw…
Boecklheim； one of the best and most beautiful positions in the world；
and where we had charming weather； although a little disposed to cold。
It was in the leisure of that long camp that I commenced these memoirs；
incited by the pleasure I took in reading those of Marshal Bassompierre；
which invited me thus to write what I should see in my own time。
During this season M。 de Noailles took Palamos； Girone； and the fortress
of Castel…Follit in Catalonia。 This last was taken by the daring of a
soldier； who led on a small number of his comrades； and carried the place
by assault。 Nothing was done in Italy； and in Flanders M。 de Luxembourg
came to no engagement with the Prince of Orange。
CHAPTER VI
After our long rest at the camp of Gaw…Boecklheim we again put ourselves
in movement； but without doing much against the enemy； and on the 16th of
October I received permission to return to Paris。 Upon my arrival there
I learnt that many things had occurred since I left。 During that time
some adventures had happened to the Princesses； as the three illegitimate
daughters of the King were called for distinction sake。 Monsieur wished
that the Duchesse de Chartres should always call the others 〃sister；〃 but
that the others should never address her except as 〃Madame。〃 The
Princesse de Conti submitted to this； but the other （Madame la Duchesse；
being the produce of the same love） set herself to call the Duchesse de
Chartres 〃mignonne。〃 But nothing was less a mignonne than her face and
her figure； and Monsieur； feeling the ridicule； complained to the King。
The King prohibited very severely this familiarity。
While at Trianon these Princesses took it into their heads to walk out
at night and divert themselves with crackers。 Either from malice or
imprudence they let off some one night under the windows of Monsieur；
rousing him thereby out of his sleep。 He was so displeased； that he
complained to the King； who made him many excuses （scolding the
Princesses）； but had great trouble to appease him。 His anger lasted a
long time； and the Duchesse de Chartres felt it。 I do not know if the
other two were very sorry。 Madame la Duchesse was accused of writing
some songs upon the Duchesse de Chartres。
The Princesse de Conti had another adventure； which made considerable
noise； and which had great results。 She had taken into her favour
Clermont； ensign of the gensdarmes and of the Guard。 He had pretended to
be enamoured of her； and had not been repelled； for she soon became in
love with him。 Clermont had attached himself to the service of M。 de
Luxembourg； and was the merest creature in his hands。 At the instigation
of M。 de Luxembourg； he turned away his regards from the Princesse de
Conti； and fixed them upon one of her maids of honourMademoiselle
Choin； a great； ugly； brown； thick…set girl； upon whom Monseigneur had
lately bestowed his affection。 Monseigneur made no secret of this； nor
did she。 Such being the case； it occurred to M。 de Luxembourg （who knew
he was no favourite with the King； and who built all his hopes of the
future upon Monseigneur） that Clermont； by marrying La Choin； might thus
secure the favour of Monseigneur； whose entire confidence she possessed。
Clermont was easily persuaded that this would be for him a royal road to
fortune； and he accordingly entered willingly i