y Castlemaine's rage was so great, that she had almost kept her
word; and it was believed that this triumph cost her rival some of her
innocence.

The queen dowager, who, though she had no share in these broils, had no
objection to them, and as usual being diverted with this circumstance,
she took occasion to joke with the Chevalier de Grammont, for having
thrown this bone of contention among such competitors; and did not fail
to give him, in the presence of the whole court, those praises which so
magnificent a present deserved: "But how comes it," said she, "that you
have no equipage yourself, though you are at so great an expense? for I
am told that you do not keep even a single footman, and that one of the
common runners in the streets lights you home with a stinking link."
"Madam," said he, "the Chevalier de Grammont hates pomp: my linkboy, of
whom you speak, is faithful to my service; and besides, he is one of
the bravest fellows in the world. Your Majesty is unacquainted with
the nation of link-boys: it is a charming one, I can assure you: a man
cannot step out in the night without being surrounded by a dozen of
them. The first time I became acquainted with them, I retained all that
offered me their services; so that when I arrived at Whitehall, I had at
least two hundred about my chair: the sight was new; for those who had
seen me pass with this illumination, asked whose funeral it was. These
gentlemen, however, began fighting about some dozen shillings I had
thrown among them then; and he whom your Majesty mentions having beaten
three or four of his companions, I retained him for his valour. As for
the parade of coaches and footmen, I despise it: I have sometimes had
five or six valets-de-chambre at once, without having a single servant
in livery, except my chaplain Poussatin." "How!" said the queen,
bursting out laughing, "a chaplain in your livery! he surely was not a
priest?" "Pardon me, madam," said he, "and the first priest in the world
for dancing the Biscayan jig." "Chevalier," said the king, "pray tell us
the history of your chaplain Poussatin."

CHAPTER EIGHTH. FUNNY ADVENTURE OF THE CHAPLAIN POUSSATIN--THE STORY
OF THE SIEGE OF LERIDA--MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF YORK, AND OTHER DETAILS
ABOUT THE ENGLISH COURT

"Sir," said the Chevalier de Grammont, "the Prince de Conde besieged
Lerida: the place in itself was nothing; but Don Gregorio Brice who
defended it, was something. He was one of those Spa