EETURN OF VEND&ME TO COUET. 49

publicly to the two Princes on their treatment of the King of
England, was admirable. That Prince (known as the Chevalier
de St. Georges) served incognito, with a modesty that the
Princes took advantage of to treat him with the greatest indif-
ference and contempt. Towards the end of the campaign,
Gamaches, exasperated with their conduct, exclaimed to them
in the presence of everybody: " Is this a wager ? speak frankly;
if so, you have won, there can be no doubt of that; but now,
speak a little to the Chevalier de St. Georges, and treat him
more politely." These sallies, however, were too public to
produce any good effect. They were suffered, but not at-
tended to.

The citadel of Lille capitulated as we have seen, with the
consent of the King, who was obliged to acknowledge that the
Marechal de Boufflers had done all he could, and that further
defence was impossible. Prince Eugkie treated Boufflers with
the greatest possible consideration. The enemy at this time
made no secret of their intention to invest Ghent, which made
the dispersal of our army the more shameful; but necessity
commanded, for no more provisions were to be go|.

M. de Vendome arrived at Versailles on the morning of
December 15th, and saluted the King as he left table. The
King embraced him with a sort of enthusiasm that made his
cabal triumph. He monopolised all conversation during the
dinner, but only trifles were talked of. The King said he would
talk to him next day at Madame de Maintenon's. This delay,
which was new to him, did not seem of good augury. He went
to pay his respects to M. de Bourgogne, who received him well
in spite of all that had passed. Then Vendome went to wait
on Monseigneur at the Princesse de Conti's: here he thought
himself in his stronghold. He was received excellently, and
the conversation turned on nothings. He wished to take ad-
vantage of this, and proposed a visit to Anet. His surprise and
that of those present were great at the uncertain reply of Mon-
seigneur, who caused it to be understood, and rather stiffly too,
that he would not go. Vendfime appeared embarrassed, and
abridged his visit. I met him at the end of the gallery of the

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