soldiers and statesmen of the United Provinces. Heinsius, long
after, used to relate a conversation which took place at this
time between William and the Prince of Vaudemont, one of the
ablest commanders in the Dutch service. Vaudemont spoke well of
several English officers, and among them of Talmash and Mackay,
but pronounced Marlborough superior beyond comparison to the
rest. "He has every quality of a general. His very look shows it.
He cannot fail to achieve something great." "I really believe,
cousin," answered the King, "that my Lord will make good every
thing that you have said of him."

There was still a short interval before the commencement of
military operations. William passed that interval in his beloved
park at Loo. Marlborough spent two or three days there, and was
then despatched to Flanders with orders to collect all the
English forces, to form a camp in the neighbourhood of Brussels,
and to have every thing in readiness for the King's arrival.

And now Marlborough had an opportunity of proving the sincerity
of those professions by which he had obtained from a heart, well
described by himself as harder than a marble chimneypiece, the
pardon of an offence such as might have moved even a gentle
nature to deadly resentment. He received from Saint Germains a
message claiming the instant performance of his promise to desert
at the head of his troops. He was told that this was the greatest
service which he could render to the Crown. His word was pledged;
and the gracious master who had forgiven all past errors
confidently expected that it would be redeemed. The hypocrite
evaded the demand with characteristic dexterity. In the most
respectful and affectionate language he excused himself for not