Proposed Marriage of Mademoiselle.--My Intrigues to Bring It About.--The Duchesse de Bourgogne and Other Allies.--The Attack Begun.--Progress of the Intrigue.--Economy at Marly.--The Marriage Agreed Upon.--Scene at Saint-Cloud.--Horrible Reports.--The Marriage.--Madame de Saint-Simon.-- Strange Character of the Duchesse de Berry CHAPTER LII Birth of Louis XV.--The Marechale de la Meilleraye.--Saint-Ruth’s Cudgel.--The Cardinal de Bouillon’s Desertion from France.--Anecdotes of His Audacity. CHAPTER LIII Imprudence of Villars.--The Danger of Truthfulness.--Military Mistakes.-- The Fortunes of Berwick.--The Son of James.--Berwick’s Report on the Army.--Imprudent Saying of Villars.--“The Good Little Fellow” in a Scrape.--What Happens to Him. CHAPTER LIV Duchesse de Berry Drunk.--Operations in Spain.--Vendome Demanded by Spain.--His Affront by the Duchesse de Bourgogne.--His Arrival.-- Staremberg and Stanhope.--The Flag of Spain Leaves Madrid.--Entry of the Archduke.--Enthusiasm of the Spaniards--The King Returns.--Strategy, of Staremberg.--Affair of Brighuega.--Battle of Villavciosa.--Its Consequences to Vendome and to Spain. VOLUME 8. CHAPTER LV State of the Country.--New Taxes.--The King’s Conscience Troubled.-- Decision of the Sorbonne.--Debate in the Council.--Effect of the Royal Tithe.--Tax on Agioteurs.--Merriment at Court.--Death of a Son of Marechal Boufflers.--The Jesuits. CHAPTER LVI My Interview with Du Mont.--A Mysterious Communication.--Anger of Monseigneur against Me.--Household of the Duchesse de Berry.--Monseigneur Taken Ill of the Smallpox.--Effect of the News.--The King Goes to Meudon.--The Danger Diminishes.--Madame de Maintenon at Meudon.--The Court at Versailles.--Hopes and Fears.--The Danger Returns.--Death of Monseigneur.--Conduct of the King. CHAPTER LVII A Rumour Reaches Versailles.--Aspect of the Court.--Various Forms of Grief.--The Duc d’Orleans.--The News Confirmed at Versailles.--Behaviour of the Courtiers.--The Duc and Duchesse de Berry.--The Duc and Duchesse de Bourgogne.--Madame.--A Swiss Asleep.--Picture of a Court.--The Heir- Apparent’s Night.--The King Returns to Marly.--Character of Monseigneur. --Effect of His Death. CHAPTER LVIII State of the Court at Death of Monseigneur.--Conduct of the Dauphin and the Dauphine.--The Duchesse de Berry.--My Interview with the Dauphin.-- He is Reconciled with M. d’Orleans. CHAPTER LIX Warnings to the Dauphin and the Dauphine.--The Dauphine Sickens and Dies.--Illness of the Dauphin.--His Death.--Character and Manners of the Dauphine.--And of the Dauphin. CHAPTER LX Certainty of Poison.--The Supposed Criminal.--Excitement of the People against M. d’Orleans.--The Cabal.--My Danger and Escape.--The Dauphin’s Casket. VOLUME 9. CHAPTER LXI