, 1842-07-09

'cfnr|"e oo" COZ iof Tie court Sallants
OF Paris to distinguish themselves in
drunken brawls and vulgar orgies.
and even to assimilate their pronun.
citation to that of the populace, whose
slang they adopted "a habit which the
elegant Marechal de Richelieu WIS
never able entirely to divest himseiI
OF in later years.) To sup at a tay-
ern with a party ofmerry roysterers,
drink until reason had become OBJ
scured, and then, sallying forth into
the streets, to insult the sober citi.
zeas, beat the watch, and, staggering
into some tripot. finish the night
mong gamblers and sharpers, was ,he
mode Of life which the noblest Illus
trations in France then gloried in
avowing, and which not TO have a.
dopted would have been to parade a
singularity of conduct that would
have insured-not appreciation, but
ridicule. These were the excuses
which obtained for the lions Of that
day the sobriquet Of 'roucs.'
One night during that period, four
Young noblemen. belonging TO the
first families in the kingdom. were re-
turning on foot, after midnight, from
a supper-party in the Marais, which
was then the most fashionable quar-
ter of Paris. In passing through an
obscure street in the cite. they were
surprised TO hear the sound of musi-
cal instruments al that late hour, and
in SO quiet a district; their curiosity
was aroused, and, approaching the
house from which the strains proceed
ed, and which was externally of a
superior description to those that
surrounded it. they peeped through
the jalousieS, of a on the ground
floor and perceived numerous as
semblage of persons, who. by their
dress. appeared to be respectable
tradespeople, giving themselves up
with heart and soul 10 the pleasures
of a gay dance.
The four youths in question were
not n Of them above twenty-one
years of age, and they joined to the
thoughtless indiscretion that cllarac-
t~erises that early stage Of life, a pre-
sumptious confidence in themselves,
which was based upon a conviction
Of their high rank and personal ad.
vantages, and considerably augment
ed by the quantity of wine which
they had drunk at their gay supper.
They, therefore, deemed lhatit would
be an excellent joke were they 10
honor those simple citizens with their
company, and, presenting themselves
unlimited among them. share in the
gaictiest of their ball. No sooner was
the giddy suggestion uttered than ii
was acted upon; they Immediately
proceeded to try the fastening Of the
door, which, not being locked within
side, yielded instantly 10 their touch;
and, noiselessly gliding into the house,
they contrived TO mlngle with the
crowd of guests assembled in the ball
room, without their entry having been
noticed by any n among them.-
The fete had been given to celebrate
the marriage Of the son of the house,
which had been solemnized that
morning; the numerous connections
of the bride and bridegroom were
present, and each having received
permission to bring friends with them
10 the ball, the four strangers, when
first remarked, were naturally sup
posed 10 have been introduced under
these auspices; and so, for a time,
everything proceeded smoothly.
81 faith said one Of the young no.
bles to the other, sthese cts appear
to me to be the most respectable
twaddlers in the world
sRespectabler repeated his friend;
|-sgrand, you mean! To lister TO
them, one would fancy oneself at Il
council of bishops. 1t is Monsieur
de Rouen here, Monsieur de Beauvais
there; and, Heaven forgive me! the
master of the house, | believe, is
STYLED Monsieur de Paris
"iSacristic! mon cher,' rejoined the
other, do look at their women; what
demure airs they play off! they real
ly blush and cast down their eyes
nearly as well as the ingenuees Of the
Comedic Franchise! Let us find out
what stuff they are made of, and try
whether they have wit enough 10
appreciate our gallantry'
While the two friends were thus
passing their observations upon the
people that surrounded them, with all
the license that characterised the pc
rod, another Of their companions had
exceeded them in i~mpertinence and
bad taste, having already, at the other
end Of the room, put into practice
the intention their last words had