The king turned round quickly.

"I have heard," said he, "that the Duke of Weimar, after the death of the great Gustavus, commanded the Swedish allies of France; one Parabere, an old blue ribbon, said to him, speaking of the last battle, which he had lost, 'Sir, why did you give it ?' 'Sir,' answered Weimar, 'because I thought I should win it.' Then, leaning over towards somebody else, he asked, 'Who is that fool with the blue ribbon ?'" The Germans retired.

Conde returned to Chantilly once more, never to go out of it again.

Montecuculli, old and ill, refused to serve any longer.

"A man who has had the honor of fighting against Mahomet Coprogli, against the prince, and against M.de Turenne, ought not to compromise his glory against people who are only just beginning to command armies," said the, veteran general to the emperor on taking his retirement.