wuxiam akh haby.

31

policy of the Court of Versailles. Louvois was no more. Hehad been at the head of the military administration of his •country during a quarter of a century: he had borne a chiefpart in the direction of two wars which had enlarged the Frenchterritory, and had filled the world with the renown of theFrench arms; and he had lived to see the beginning of a thirdwar -which tasked his great powers to the utmost. Betweenhim and the celebrated captains who carried his plans intoexecution there was little harmony. His imperious temper andhis confidence in himself impelled him to interfere too muchwith the conduct of troops in the field, even when those troopswere commanded by Conde, by Turenne or by Luxemburg.But he was the greatest Adj utant General, the greatest Quarter-master General, the greatest Commissary General, thatEnrope had seen. He may indeed be said to have made a re-volution in the art of disciplining, distributing, equipping andprovisioning armies. In spite, however, of his abilities and ofhis services, he had become odious to Lewis and to her whogoverned Lewis. On the last occasion on -which the King andthe minister transacted business together, the ill humour onboth sides broke violently forth. The servant, in his vexation,dashed his portfolio on the ground. The master, forgetting,what he seldom forgot, that a King should be a gentleman,lifted his cane. Fortunately his wife was present. She, withher usual prudence, caught his arm. She then got Louvoisout of the room, and exhorted him to come back the next dayas if nothing had happened. The next day he came; but withdeath in his face. The King, though full of resentment, W'astouched with pity, and.advised Louvois to go home andtake care of himself. That evening the great ministerdied*

* Burnet, ii. 95. end Onslow’s note; M^raoires dc Saint Simon; Md-moires de Dangeau.

CHAP

xvm

1692 .