Loved by the soldiers, adored by the women, at his ease in camps, a roue in courts, he was of that school of sparkling vices of which the Marshal de Richelieu had been the type in France.

It was said that the queen herself had been enamoured of him, without being able to fix his inconstancy.

Friend of the Duc d'Orleans, companion of his debaucheries, still he had never conspired with him.

All treachery was abhorrent to him, all baseness of heart roused his utmost indignation.

He adopted the Revolution as a noble idea, of which he was always ready to be the soldier, but never the accomplice.