EXCITEMENT AT COUKT.

37

"beaten. M. de Vend6me, in the meantime, did not budge from
the post he had taken up near Ghent. The King wrote to him
to go with his army to the relief of Lille. M. de Vendfone still
delayed; another courier was sent with the same result. At
this, the King, losing temper, despatched another courier, with
orders to Monseigneur de Bourgogne, to lead the army to Lille,
if M. de Vend6rne refused to do so. At this, M. de Vendome
awoke from his lethargy. He set out for Lille, but took the
longest road, and dawdled as long as he could on the way,
stopping five days at Mons Puenelle, amongst other places.

The agitation, meanwhile, in Paris, was extreme. The King
demanded news of the siege from his courtiers, and could not
understand why no couriers arrived. It was generally expected
that some decisive battle had been fought. Each day increased
the uneasiness. The Princes and the principal noblemen of the
Court were at the army. Every one at Versailles feared for the
safety of a relative or friend. Prayers were offered ever}rwhere.
Madame de Bourgogne passed whole nights in the chapel, when
people thought her in bed, and drove her women to despair.
Following her example, ladies who had husbands at the army
stirred not from the churches. Gaming, conversation ceased.
Fear was painted upon every face, and seen in every speech,
without shame. If a horse passed a little quickly,, everybody
ran without knowing where. The apartments of Charnillart
were crowded with lacqueys, even into the street, sent by people
desiring to be informed of the moment that a courier arrived ;
and this terror and uncertainty lasted nearly a month. The
provinces were even more troubled than Paris. The King
wrote to the Bishop, in order that they should offer up prayers
in terms which suited with the danger of the time. It may be
judged what was the general impression and alarm.

It is true, that in the midst of this trepidation, the partisans
of M. de Vendome affected to pity that poor Prince Eugene, and
to declare that he must inevitably fail in his undertaking; but
these discourses did not impose upon me. I knew what kind
of enemies we had to deal with, and I foresaw the worst results
from the idleness and inattention of M. de Vendome. One