FORE:The whole affair was an exact specimen of the mingled extravagance, folly, vice, and weakness which were leading to the terrible retribution so swiftly approaching.
FORE:Before the coronation of Napoleon, the latter said to him, Make two large water-colour sketches of the procession with correct costumes, every one in their right place. I will send them to study your designs, which will be exhibited in the great [482] gallery of the Tuileries, so that there may be no confusion.
FORE:As to Pauline, she spent her whole time in working for and visiting those unfortunate emigrs within reach who were in poverty and distress.After supper one evening she had retired to her room and was sitting up late, writing; when one of the mirrors moved, and from a door behind it entered M. de Lascaris, and threw himself at her feet. She sprang up with a cry, the table fell upon him, the lamp went out, her maid rushed inalarmed by her mistress calling loudly for herin her nightdress candle in hand, while M. de Lascaris disappeared through the door he had came in by, with a cut on his cheek from the table, which excited the curiosity and laughter of the court. To Flicit Italy was one long enchantment, and with reluctance she came back to France.
THREE:There was also the salon of Mme. du Deffand, who, while more decidedly irreligious and atheistical than Mme. Geoffrin, was her superior in talent, birth, and education, and always spoke of her with the utmost disdain, as a bourgeoise without manners or instruction, who did not know [361] how to write, pronounce, or spell correctly, and saw no reason why people should not talk of des zharicots.
THREE:THE first family in France after the royal family, is evidently that of Lorraine; the second without dispute that of Rohan, and the third La Tour dAuvergne, or Bouillon-Turenne, after that La Trmoille, [66] and then come a whole string of illustrious names, Mailly-de-Nesle, Crquy, Harcourt, Clermont-Tonnerre, Saint Jean, Thoury; Sabran, La Rochefoucauld, Montmorency, Narbonne-Pelet, Bthune, Beauvoir, Beauffremont, Villeneuve (premier Marquis de France), and many others.
