ncluded--and wrote _Memoirs_ in which
her adventures are recorded at full length, to the pungent criticism of
her foes and the {23} enthusiastic glorification of herself. Madame de
Frontenac was in attendance upon _La Grande Mademoiselle_ during the
period of her most spectacular exploits and shared all the excitement
which culminated with the famous entry of Orleans in 1652.

Madame de Frontenac was beautiful, and to beauty she added the charm of
wit. With these endowments she made her way despite her slender
means--and to be well-born but poor was a severe hardship in the reign
of Louis XIV. Her portrait at Versailles reflects the striking
personality and the intelligence which won for her the title _La
Divine_. Throughout an active life she never lacked powerful friends,
and Saint-Simon bears witness to the place she held in the highest and
most exclusive circle of court society.

Frontenac and his wife lived together only during the short period
1648-52. But intercourse was not wholly severed by the fact of
domestic separation. It is clear from the _Memoirs_ of the Duchesse de
Montpensier that Frontenac visited his wife at Saint-Fargeau, the
country seat to which the duchess had been exiled for her part in the
wars of the Fronde. Such evidence as there is seems to show that
Madame de Frontenac considered herself {24} deeply wronged by her
husband and was unwilling to accept his overtures. From Mademoiselle
de Montpensier we hear little after 1657, the year of her quarrel with
Madame de Frontenac. The maid of honour was accused of disloyalty,
tears flowed, the duchess remained obdurate, and, in short, Madame de
Frontenac was dismissed.

The most sprightly stories of the Frontenacs occur in these _Memoirs_
of _La Grande Mademoiselle_. Unfortunately the Duchesse de Montpensier
was so self-centred that her witness is not dispassionate. She
disliked Frontenac, without concealment. As seen by her, he was vain
and boastful, even in matters which concerned his kitchen and his
plate. His delight in new clothes was childish. He compelled guests
to speak admiringly of his horses, in contradiction of their manifest
appearance. Worst of all, he tried to stir up trouble between the
duchess and her own people.

Though Frontenac and his wife were unable to live together, they did
not become completely estranged. It may be that the death of their
son--who seems to have been killed in battle--drew them together on