140 MEMOIRS OP THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

wished for no privacy. Gathering up his pluck at this, Heudi-
court gave rein to all his impudence, and declared that they
who had been questioned had not dared to own the truth for
fear of offending the Mar6chal; that as for himself ho might
have been wrong in speaking and writing about it, but ho had
not imagined that words said before such a numerous company,
and in such a public place, could remain secret, or that he had
clone more harm in writing about them than so many others
who had acted likewise.

The Maro'chal, outraged upon hearing so bold and so truthful
a reply, let out with greater violence than ever against Houdi-
court, accused him of ingratitude and villainy, drove him away,
and a few minutes after had him arrested and conducted
as a prisoner to the chateau at Calais. This violent scene
made as much stir at the Court and in the army as that which
had caused it. The consistent and public conduct of Villars
was much approved. The King declared that he left Houdi-
court in his hands: Madame de Maintenon and Madame de
Bourgogne, that they abandoned him: and his friends avowed
that his fault was inexcusable. But the tide soon turned.
After the first hubbub, the excuse of " the good little follow "
appeared excellent to the ladies who had their reasons for
liking him and for fearing to irritate him; and also to the army,
where the Mardchal was not liked. Several of the officers who
had been publicly interrogated by Villars, now admitted that
they had been taken by surprise, and had not wished to com-
promise themselves. It was oven, going into base details,
argued that the Mare'clial's expression could not apply to
the vivandieres and the other camp women, as they always
rode astride, one leg on this side one log on the other, like men,
a manner very different from that of the ladies of Madame do
Bourgogne. People contested the power of a general to deal
out justice upon his inferiors for personal matters in which the
service was in no wise concerned; in a word, Heudicourt was
soon let out of Calais, and remained "the good little fellow " in
fashion in spite of the Mardchal, who, tormented by so many
things this campaign, sought for and obtained permission to go