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everything tending to advance his illegitimate children and to put a
slight upon the Princes of the blood。 He could not openly have made this
promotion without embroiling himself with the latter； but coming as it
would from M。 de Noailles； he had nothing to fear。 M。 de Vendome； once
general of an army； could no longer serve in any other quality； and would
act as a stepping…stone for M。 du Maine。
From this moment M。 de Noailles returned more than ever into the good
graces of the King。 Everything happened as it had been arranged。 But
the secret was betrayed in the execution。 Surprise was felt that at the
same moment M。 de Noailles sent a request to be recalled； he also sent；
and without waiting for a reply； to call M。 de Vendame to the command。
What completely raised the veil were the letters patent that he sent
immediately after to M。 de Vendome； and that it was known he could not
have received from the King in the time that had elapsed。 M。 de Noailles
returned from Catalonia； and was received as his address merited。 He
feigned being lame with rheumatism； and played the part for a long time；
but forgot himself occasionally； and made his company smile。 He fixed
himself at the Court； and gained there much more favour than he could
have gained by the war； to the great vexation of Barbezieux。
M。 de Luxembourg very strangely married his daughter at this time to the
Chevalier de Soissons （an illegitimate son of the Comte de Soissons）；
brought out from the greatest obscurity by the Comtesse de Nemours； and
adopted by her to spite her family： M。 de Luxembourg did not long survive
this fine marriage。 At sixty…seven years of age he believed himself
twenty…five； and lived accordingly。 The want of genuine intrigues； from
which his age and his face excluded him； he supplied by money…power； and
his intimacy； and that of his son； with the Prince de Conti and
Albergotti was kept up almost entirely by the community of their habits；
and the secret parties of pleasure they concocted together。 All the
burden of marches； of orders of subsistence； fell upon a subordinate。
Nothing could be more exact than the coup d'oeil of M。 de Luxembourg
nobody could be more brilliant； more sagacious； more penetrating than he
before the enemy or in battle； and this； too； with an audacity； an ease；
and at the same time a coolness； which allowed him to see all and foresee
all under the hottest fire； and in the most imminent danger： It was at
such times that he was great。 For the rest he was idleness itself。 He
rarely walked unless absolutely obliged； spent his time in gaming； or in
conversation With his familiars； and had every evening a supper with a
chosen few （nearly always the same）； and if near a town； the other sex
were always agreeably mingled with them。 When thus occupied； he was
inaccessible to everybody； and if anything pressing happened； it was his
subordinate who attended to it。 Such was at the army the life of this
great general； and such it was at Paris； except that the Court and the
great world occupied his days； and his pleasures the evenings。 At last；
age； temperament； and constitution betrayed him。 He fell ill at
Versailles。 Given over by Fagon； the King's physician； Coretti； an
Italian； who had secrets of his own； undertook his cure； and relieved
him； but only for a short time。 His door during this illness was
besieged by all the Court。 The King sent to inquire after him； but it
was more for appearance' sake than from sympathy； for I have already
remarked that the King did not like him。 The brilliancy of his
campaigns； and the difficulty of replacing him； caused all the
disquietude。 Becoming worse； M。 de Luxembourg received the sacraments；
showed some religion and firmness； and died on the morning of the 4th of
January； 1695； the fifth day of his illness； much regretted by many
people； but personally esteemed by none； and loved by very few。
Not one of the Dukes M。 de Luxembourg had attacked went to see him during
his illness。 I neither went nor sent； although at Versailles； and I must
admit that I felt my deliverance from such an enemy。
Here； perhaps； I may as well relate the result of the trial in which we
were engaged； and which； after the death of M。 de Luxembourg； was
continued by his son。 It was not judged until the following year。
I have shown that by our implicating the Duc de Gesvres； the Chief
President had been declared incapable of trying the case。 The rage he
conceived against us cannot be expressed； and； great actor that he was；
he could not hide it。 All his endeavour afterwards was to do what he
could against us； the rest of the mask fell； and the deformity of the
judge appeared in the man； stripped of all disguise。
We immediately signified to M。 de Luxembourg that he must choose between
the letters patent of 1581 and those of 1662。 If he abandoned the first
the case fell through； in repudiating the last he renounced the certainty
of being duke and peer after us； and ran the risk of being reduced to an
inferior title previously granted to him。 The position was a delicate
one； he was affrighted； but after much consultation he resolved to run
all risks and maintain his pretensions。 It thus simply became a question
of his right to the title of Duc de Piney； with the privilege attached to
it as a creation of 1581。
In the spring of 1696 the case was at last brought on； before the
Assembly of all the Chambers。 Myself and the other Dukes seated
ourselves in court to hear the proceedings。 The trial commenced。
All the facts and particulars of the cause were brought forward。
Our advocates spoke； and then few doubted but that we should gain the
victory。 M。 de Luxembourg's advocate； Dumont； was next heard。 He was
very audacious； and spoke so insolently of us； saying； in Scripture
phraseology； that we honoured the King with our lips； whilst our hearts
were far from him； that I could not contain myself。 I was seated between
the Duc de la Rochefoucauld and the Duc d'Estrees。 I stood up； crying
out against the imposture of this knave； and calling for justice on him。
M。 de la Rochefoucauld pulled me back； made me keep silent； and I plunged
down into my seat more from anger against him than against the advocate。
My movement excited a murmur。 We might on the instant have had justice
against Dumont； but the opportunity had passed for us to ask for it； and
the President de Maisons made a slight excuse for him。 We complained；
however； afterwards to the King； who expressed his surprise that Dumont
had not been stopped in the midst of his speech。
The summing up was made by D'Aguesseau； who acquitted himself of the task
with much eloquence and impartiality。 His speech lasted two days。 This
being over； the court was cleared； and the judges were left alone to
deliberate upon their verdict。 Some time after we were called in to hear
that verdict given。 It was in favour of M。 de Luxembourg in so far as
the title dating from 1662 was concerned； but the consideration of his
claim to the title of 1581 was adjourned indefinitely； so that he
remained exactly in the same position as his father。
It was with difficulty we could believe in a decree so unjust and so
novel； and which decided a question that was not under dispute。 I was
outraged； but I endeavoured to contain myself。 I spoke to M。 de la
Rochefoucauld； I tried to make him listen to me； and to agree that we
should complain to the King； but I spoke to a man furious； incapable of
understanding anything or of doing anything。 Returning to my own house；
I wrote a letter to the King； in which I complained of the opinion of the
judges。 I also pointed out； that when everybody had been ordered to
retire from the council chamber； Harlay and his secretary had been
allowed to remain。 On these and other grounds I begged the King to grant
a new trial。
I carried this letter to the Duc de la Tremoille； but I could not get him
to look at it。 I returned home more vexed if possible than when I left。
The King； nevertheless； was exceedingly dissatisfied with the judgment。
He explained himself to that effect at his dinner； and in a manner but
little advantageous to the Parliament； and prepared himself to receive
the complaints he expected would be laid before him。 But the obstinacy
of M。 de la Rochefoucauld； which turned into vexation against himself；
rendered it impossible for us to take any steps in the matter； and so
overwhelmed me with displeasure； that I retired to La Trappe during
Passion Week in order to recover myself。
At my return I learned that the King had spoken of this judgment to the
Chief President； and that that magistrate had blamed it； saying the cause
was indubitably ours； and that he had always thought so！ If he thought
so； why oppose us so long？ and if he did not think so； what a
prevaricator was he to reply with this flattery； so as to be in accord
with the King？ The judges themselves were ashamed of their verdict； and
excused themselves for it on the ground of their compassion for the state
in which M。 de Luxembourg would have been placed had he lost the title of
1662； and upon its being impossible that he should gain the