D'ORLEANS IN SPAIN.

^CHAPTER III.

The Due d'Orleans in Spain—Offends Madame des Ursins and Madame de
Maintenon—Laziness of M. de Vendome in Manders—Battle of Oude-
narde—Defeat and Disasters—Difference of M. de Vendome and the Due
de Bourgogne.

THE war this year proceeded much as before. M. d'Orleans
went to Spain again. Before taking the field he stopped at
Madrid to arrange matters. There he found nothing prepared*,
and everything in disorder. He was compelled to work day
after day, for many hours, in order to obtain the most necessary
supplies. This is what accounted for a delay which was mali-
ciously interpreted at Paris into love for the Queen. M. le Due
was angry at the idleness in which he was kept; even Madame
la Duchesse, who hated him, because she had formerly loved
him too well, industriously circulated this report, which was
believed at Court, in the city, even in foreign countries, every-
where, save in Spain, where the truth was too well known. It
was while he was thus engaged that he gave utterance to a
pleasantry that made Madame de Maintenon and Madame des
Ursins his two most bitter enemies for ever afterwards.

One evening he was at table with several French and Spanish,
gentlemen, all occupied with his vexation against Madame des
Ursins, who governed everything, and who had not thought of
even the smallest thing for the campaign. The supper and the
wine somewhat affected M. d'Orldans. Still full of his vexation,
he took a glass, and, looking at the company, made an allusion
in a toast to the two women, one the captain, the other the
lieutenant, who governed France and Spain, and that in so