108 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SMOK

settled between the King and Madame de Maintenon after
supper, the day of Chamillart's fall. Voysin was conducted to
the King by Bloin, after having received the orders and instruc-
tions of his benefactress. In the evening of that day, the King
found Madame Voysin with Madame de Maintenon, and kissed
her several times to please his lady.

Yoysnr's first experience of the duties of his office was un-
pleasant. He was foolish enough, feeling his ignorance, to tell
the King, that at the outset he should be obliged to leave every-
thing to his Majesty, but that when he knew better, he would
take more on himself. The King, to whom Chamillart used
himself to leave everything, was much offended by this lan-
guage ; and drawing himself up, in the tone of a master, told
Voysin to learn, once for all, that his duties were to receive and
expedite orders, nothing else. He then took the projects
brought to him, examined them, prescribed the measures he
thought fit, and very stiffly sent away Voysin, who did not
know where he was, and had great want of his wife to set his
head to rights, and of Madame de Maintenon to give him com-
pleter lessons than she had yet been able to do. Shortly after-
wards he was forbidden to send any orders without submitting
them to the Marechal de Boufflers. He was supple, and sure
of Madame de Maintenon, and through her of the Mare'chal,
waited for time to release him from this state of tutelage; and
showed nothing of his annoyance, especially to Boufflers himself.

Events soon happened to alter the position of the Mardchal
de Boufflers.

Flanders, ever since the opening of the campaign, had been
the principal object of attention. Prince Eugene and Marl-
borough, joined together, continued their vast designs, and dis-
dained to hide them. Their prodigious preparations spoke of
sieges. Shall I say that we desired them, and that we thought
of nothing but how to preserve, not use our army \

Tournai was the first place towards which the enemies di-
rected their arms. After a short resistance it fell into their
hands. Villars, as I have said, was commander in Flanders.
Boufflers feeling that, In the position of affairs, such a post must