le; so great
was his fear lest his friend should lose the present opportunity.

Matta then returned to the company, much pleased with the confidence
which had been placed in him, and with the share he had in the success
of this adventure. He put himself into the best humour imaginable in
order to divert the attention of his guests; he severely satirised
those, whose rage for gaming induced them to sacrifice to it every other
consideration; he loudly ridiculed the folly of the Chevalier upon this
article, and secretly laughed at the credulity of the Piedmontese, whom
he had deceived with so much ingenuity.

It was late at night before the company broke up, and Matta went to bed,
very well satisfied with what he had done for his friend; and, if we may
credit appearances, this friend enjoyed the fruit of his perfidy. The
amorous Marchioness received him like one who wished to enhance the
value of the favour she bestowed; her charms were far from being
neglected; and if there are any circumstances in which we may detest the
traitor while we profit by the treason, this was not one of them; and
however successful the Chevalier de Grammont was in his intrigues, it
was not owing to him that the contrary was not believed; but, be that
as it may, being convinced that in love whatever is gained by address
is gained fairly, it does not appear that he ever showed the smallest
degree of repentance for this trick. But it is now time for its to take
him from the court of Savoy, to see him shine in that of France.

CHAPTER FIFTH. HE RETURNS TO THE COURT OF FRANCE--HIS ADVENTURES AT THE
SIEGE OF ARRAS--HIS REPLY TO CARDINAL MAZARIN--HE IS BANISHED THE COURT

The Chevalier de Grammont, upon his return to France, sustained, with
the greatest success, the reputation he had acquired abroad: alert in
play, active and vigilant in love; sometimes successful, and always
feared, in his intrigues; in war alike prepared for the events of good
or ill fortune; possessing an inexhaustible fund of pleasantry in the
former, and full of expedients and dexterity in the latter.

Zealously attached to the Prince de Conde from inclination, he was a
witness, and, if we may be allowed to say it, his companion, in the
glory he had acquired at the celebrated battles of Lens, Norlinguen, and
Fribourg; and the details he so frequently gave of them were far from
diminishing their lustre.

[Louis of Bourbon, Duke d'Enghien, afterwards, by the death o