"THE GOOD LITTLE FELLOW." 145

fun of people, in highly-seasoned pleasantry, and in comic songs.
Spoiled by the favour which had always sustained him, he gave
full license to his tongue, and by this audacity had rendered
himself redoubtable. He was a scurrilous wretch, a great
drunkard, and a debauchee; not at all cowardly, and with a face
hideous as that of an ugly satyr. He was not insensible to this ;
and so, unfitted for intrigues himself, he assisted others in them,
and, by this honest trade, had acquired many friends amongst
the flower of the courtiers of both sexes—above all with the
ladies. By way of contrast to his wickedness, he was called
tc the good little fellow;" and " the good little fellow " was
mixed up in all intrigues; the ladies of the Court positively
struggled for him; and not one of them, even of the highest
ranks, would have dared to fall out with him. Thus protected,
he was rather an embarrassing customer for Marechal de Villars^
who, nevertheless, falling back as usual upon his effrontery,
hit upon a bright project to bring home to Heudicourt the
expedient he had against him.

He collected together about fifteen general officers, and
Heudicourt with them. When they had all arrived, he left his
chamber, and went to them. A number of loiterers had
gathered round. This was just what Villars wanted. He
asked all the officers in turn, if they remembered hearing him
utter the expression attributed to him. Albergotti said he
remembered to have heard Villdrs apply the term " harlots " to
the suttlers and the camp creatures, but never to any other
'woman. All the rest followed in the same track. Then
Yillars, after letting out against this frightful calumny., and
against the impostor who had written and sent it to the Court,
addressed himself to Heudicourt, whom he treated in the most
cruel fashion. " The good little fellow " was strangely taken
aback, and wished to defend himself; but Villars produced
proofs that could not be contradicted. Thereupon the ill-
favoured dog avowed his turpitude, and had the audacity to
approach Villars in order to speak low to him; but the Mare"-
chal, drawing back, and repelling him with an air of indigna-
tion, said' to him aloud, that with scoundrels like him he

VOL. II. 10