D'HARCOURT'S WITTICISM. 103

than ever. I do not know if Chamillart was then near his
destruction, and whether this conversation set him up again;
but from the day it took place all reports died away, and the
Court thought him perfectly re-established.

But his enemies continued to work against him. Madame
de Maintenon and the Duchesse de Bourgogne abated not a jot
in their enmity. The Marechal d'Harcourt lost no opportu-
nity of pulling him to pieces. One day, among others, he was
declaiming violently against him at Madame de Maintenon's,
whom he knew he should thus please. She asked him whom
he would put in his place. "M. Fagon, Madame," he replied
coldly. She laughed, but said this was not a thing to joke
about- but he maintained seriously that the old doctor would
make a much better minister than Chamillart, for he had some
intelligence, which would make up for his ignorance of many
matters; but what could be expected of a man who was igno-
rant and stupid too ? The cunning Norman knew well the
effect this strange parallel "would have; and it is indeed incon-
ceivable how damaging his sarcasm proved. A short time
afterwards, D'Antin, wishing also to please, but more impru-
dent, insulted the son of Chamillart so grossly, and abused, the
father so publicly, that he was obliged afterwards to excuse
himself.

The King held, for the first time in his life, a real council of
war. He told the Due de Bourgogne of it, saying rather
sharply: "Come, unless you prefer going to vespers." The
council lasted nearly three hours, and was stormy. The
Mare"chals were freer in their language than usual, and com-
plained of the ministers. All fell upon Chamillart, who
was accused, among other things, of matters that concerned
Desmarets, on whom he finished by turning off the King's
anger. Chamillart defended himself with so much anger that
his voice was heard by people outside.

But he had of late heaped fault on fault. Besides setting
Madame de Maintenon and the Duchesse de Bourgogne against
him, he rather wantonly irritated Monseigneur, at that time
more than ever under the government of Mademoiselle Choin.