forty horses to ride occasionally in the Bois de Boulogne on horseback."[18] In one night M. de Chenonceaux, son of M. et Mme. Dupin, loses at play 700,000 livres.  “M. de Chenonceaux and M. de Francueil ran through seven or eight millions at this epoch. “[19] “The Duc de Lauzun, at the age of twenty-six, after having run through the capital of 100,000 crowns revenue, is prosecuted by his creditors for nearly two millions of indebtedness."[20] “M. le Prince de Conti lacks bread and wood, although with an income of 600,000 livres,” for the reason that “he buys and builds wildly on all sides."[21] Where would be the pleasure if these people were reasonable?  What kind of a seignior is he who studies the price of things?  And how can the exquisite be reached if one grudges money?  Money, accordingly, must flow and flow on until it is exhausted, first by the innumerable secret or tolerated bleedings through domestic abuses, and next in broad streams of the master’s own prodigality, through structures, furniture, toilets, hospitality, gallantry, and pleasures.  The Comte d’Artois, that he may give the queen a fête, demolishes, rebuilds, arranges, and furnishes Bagatelle from top to bottom, employing nine hundred workmen, day and night, and, as there is no time to go any distance for lime, plaster, and cut stone, he sends patrols of the Swiss guards on the highways to seize, pay for, and immediately bring in all carts thus loaded.[22] The Marshal de Soubise, entertaining the king one day at dinner and over night, in his country house, expends 200,000 livres.[23] Mme. de Matignon makes a contract to be furnished every day with a new head-dress at 24,000 livres per annum.  Cardinal de Rohan has an alb bordered with point lace, which is valued at more than 100,000 livres, while his kitchen utensils are of massive silver.[24] — Nothing is more natural, considering their ideas of money; hoarded and piled up, instead of being a fertilizing stream, it is a useless marsh exhaling bad odors.  The queen, having presented the Dauphin with a carriage whose silver-gilt trappings are decked with rubies and sapphires, naively exclaims, “Has not the king added 200,000 livres to my treasury?  That is no reason for keeping them!"[25] They would rather throw it out of the window.  Which was actually done by the Marshal de Richelieu with a purse he had given to his grandson, and which the lad, not knowing how to use, brought back intact.  Money, on this occasion, was at least of service to the passing street-sweeper that picked it up.  But had there been no passer-by to pick it up, it would have been thrown into the river.  One day Mme. de B — , being with the Prince de Conti, hinted that she would like a miniature of her canary bird set in a ring.  The Prince offers to have it made.  His offer is accepted, but on condition that the miniature be set plain and without jewels.  Accordingly the miniature is placed in a simple rim of gold.  But, to cover over the painting, a