[22].  “Marie Antoinette,” III. 135, November 19, 1777.

[23].  Barbier, IV., 155.  The Marshal de Soubise had a hunting lodge to which the king came from time to time to eat an omelet of pheasants’ eggs, costing 157 livres, 10 sous. (Mercier, XII 192; according to the statement of the cook who made it.)

[24].  Mme. d’Oberkirk, I. 129, II. 257.

[25].  Mme. de Genlis, “Souvenirs de Félicie,” 80; and “Théâtre de l’Education,” II. 367.  A virtuous young woman in ten months runs into debt to the amount of 70,000 francs:  “Ten louis for a small table, 15 louis for another, 800 francs for a bureau, 200 francs for a small writing desk, 300 francs for a large one.  Hair rings, hair glass, hair chain, hair bracelets, hair clasps, hair necklace, hair box, 9,900 francs,” etc.

[26].  Mme. de Genlis, “Adèle et Théodore,” III. 14.

[27].  Mme. d’Avray, sister of Mme. de Genlis, sets the example, for which she is at first much criticized.

[28].  “When I arrived in France M. de Choiseul’s reign was just over.  The woman who seemed nice to him, or could only please his sister-in-law the Duchesse de Gramont, was sure of being able to secure the promotion to colonel and lieutenant general of any man they proposed.  Women were of consequence even in the eyes of the old and of the clergy; they were thoroughly familiar, to an extraordinary degree, with the march of events; they knew by heart the characters and habits of the king’s friends and ministers.  One of these, on returning to his château from Versailles, informed his wife about every thing with which he had been occupied; at home he says one or two words to her about his water-color sketches, or remains silent and thoughtful, pondering over what he has just heard in Parliament.  Our poor ladies are abandoned to the Society of those frivolous men who, for want of intellect, have no ambition, and of course no employment (dandies).”  (Stendhal, “Rome, Naples, and Florence,” 377.  A narrative by Colonel Forsyth).

[29].  De Bezenval, 49, 60. — “Out of twenty seigniors at the court there are fifteen not living with their wives, and keeping mistresses.  Nothing is so common at Paris among certain people.” (Barbier, IV. 496.

[30].  Ne soyez point époux, ne soyez point amant, Soyez l’homme du jour et vous serez charmant.

[31].  Crébillon, fills.  “La nuit et le moment,” IX, 14.

[32].  Horace Walpole’s letters (January 15, 1766). — The Duke de Brissac, at Louveciennes, the lover of Mme. du Barry, and passionately fond of her, always in her society assumed the attitude of a polite stranger. (Mme. Vigée-Lebrun, “Souvenirs,” I. 165.)