In 1685 he gave the king a splendid entertainment in his castle of Sceaux; in 1686 he set off for Genoa, bombarded by Duquesne; in 1689 he, in person, organized the fleet of Tourville at Brest.

"He was general in everything," says Madame de la Fayette; "even when he did not give the word, he had the exterior and air of it." "He is devoured by ambition," Madame de Maintenon had lately said: in 1689 she writes, "_Anxious (L'Inquiet, i.e., Louvois_) hangs but by a thread; he is very much shocked at having the direction of the affairs of Ireland taken from him; he blames me for it.

He counted on making immense profits; M.de Seignelay counts on nothing but perils and labors.

He will succeed if he do not carry things with too high a hand.

The king would have no better servant, if he could rid himself a little of his temperament.