CHAPTER XXV Anecdote of Canaples.--Death of the Duc de Coislin.--Anecdotes of His Unbearable Politeness.--Eccentric Character.--President de Novion.-- Death of M. de Lorges.--Death of the Duchesse de Gesvres. CHAPTER XXVI The Prince d'Harcourt.--His Character and That of His Wife.--Odd Court Lady.--She Cheats at Play.--Scene at Fontainebleau.--Crackers at Marly.-- Snowballing a Princess.--Strange Manners of Madame d'Harcourt.-- Rebellion among Her Servants.--A Vigorous Chambermaid. CHAPTER XXVII Madame des Ursins.--Her Marriage and Character.--The Queen of Spain.-- Ambition of Madame de Maintenon.--Coronation of Philip V.--A Cardinal Made Colonel.--Favourites of Madame des Ursins.--Her Complete Triumph.-- A Mistake.--A Despatch Violated.--Madame des Ursins in Disgrace. CHAPTER XXVIII Appointment of the Duke of Berwick.--Deception Practised by Orry.--Anger of Louis XIV.--Dismissal of Madame des Ursins.--Her Intrigues to Return. --Annoyance of the King and Queen of Spain.--Intrigues at Versailles.-- Triumphant Return of Madame des Ursins to Court.--Baseness of the Courtiers.--Her Return to Spain Resolved On. CHAPTER XXIX An Honest Courtier.--Robbery of Courtin and Fieubet.--An Important Affair.--My Interview with the King.--His Jealousy of His Authority.-- Madame La Queue, the King's Daughter.--Battle of Blenheim or Hochstedt.-- Our Defeat.--Effect of the News on the King.--Public Grief and Public Rejoicing.--Death of My Friend Montfort. CHAPTER XXX Naval Battle of Malaga.--Danger of Gibraltar.--Duke of Mantua in Search of a Wife.--Duchesse de Lesdiguieres.--Strange Intrigues.--Mademoiselle d'Elboeuf Carries off the Prize.--A Curious Marriage.--Its Result.-- History of a Conversion to Catholicism.--Attempted Assassination. -- Singular Seclusion CHAPTER XXXI Fascination of the Duchesse de Bourgogne.--Fortunes of Nangis.--He Is Loved by the Duchesse and Her Dame d'Atours.--Discretion of the Court.-- Maulevrier.--His Courtship of the Duchess.--Singular Trick.--Its Strange Success.--Mad Conduct of Maulevrier--He Is Sent to Spain.--His Adventures There.--His Return and Tragical Catastrophe. CHAPTER XXXII Death of M. de Duras.--Selfishness of the King.--Anecdote of Puysieux.-- Character of Pontchartrain.--Why He Ruined the French Fleet.--Madame des Ursins at Last Resolves to Return to Spain.--Favours Heaped upon Her.-- M. de Lauzun at the Army.--His bon mot.--Conduct of M. de Vendome.-- Disgrace and Character of the Grand Prieur. VOLUME 5. CHAPTER XXXIII A Hunting Adventure.--Story and Catastrophe of Fargues.--Death and Character of Ninon de l'Enclos.--Odd Adventure of Courtenvaux.--Spies at Court.--New Enlistment.--Wretched State of the Country.--Balls at Marly. CHAPTER XXXIV