Meanwhile, the army which had been sent to Germany under the command of Monseigneur and of the Marechal de Lorges, did little or nothing.  The Marechal wished to attack Heilbronn, but Monseigneur was opposed to it; and, to the great regret of the principal generals and of the troops, the attack was not made.  Monseigneur returned early to Versailles.

At sea we were more active.  The rich merchant fleet of Smyrna was attacked by Tourville; fifty vessels were burnt or sunk, and twenty-seven taken, all richly freighted.  This campaign cost the English and Dutch dear.  It is believed their loss was more than thirty millions of ecus.

The season finished with the taking of Charleroy.  On the 16th of September the Marechal de Villeroy, supported by M. de Luxembourg, laid siege to it, and on the 11th of October, after a good defence, the place capitulated.  Our loss was very slight.  Charleroy taken, our troops went into winter-quarters, and I returned to Court, like the rest.  The roads and the posting service were in great disorder.  Amongst other adventures I met with, I was driven by a deaf and dumb postillion, who stuck me fast in the mud when near Quesnoy.  At Pont Saint-Maxence all the horses were retained by M. de Luxembourg.  Fearing I might be left behind, I told the postmaster that I was governor (which was true), and that I would put him in jail if he did not give me horses.  I should have been sadly puzzled how to do it; but he was simple enough to believe me, and gave the horses.  I arrived, however, at last at Paris, and found a change at the Court, which surprised me.

Daquin—­first doctor of the King and creature of Madame de Montespan—­had lost nothing of his credit by her removal, but had never been able to get on well with Madame de Maintenon, who looked coldly upon all the friends of her predecessor.  Daquin had a son, an abbe, and wearied the King with solicitations on his behalf.  Madame de Maintenon seized the opportunity, when the King was more than usually angry with Daquin, to obtain his dismissal:  it came upon him like a thunderbolt.  On the previous evening the King had spoken to him for a long time as usual, and had never treated him better.  All the Court was astonished also.  Fagon, a very skilful and learned man, was appointed in his place at the instance of Madame de Maintenon.

Another event excited less surprise than interest.  On Sunday, the 29th of November, the King learned that La Vauguyon had killed himself in his bed, that morning, by firing twice into his throat.  I must say a few words about this Vauguyon.  He was one of the pettiest and poorest gentlemen of France:  he was well-made, but very swarthy, with Spanish features, had a charming voice, played the guitar and lute very well, and was skilled in the arts of gallantry.  By these talents he had succeeded, in finding favour with Madame de Beauvais, much regarded at the Court as having been the King’s first mistress.