The weekly clarion., 1875-12-01

The Story Of a Famous COurtier.
From Temple Bar.

L rum AeInple DAT.
A ball at the Hotel de Scissors Spring
had scarcely dawned upon the outer world,
but tue world of fashion rose superior to
the tardy rotation Of the seasons, and
here summer was at its meridian-the
walls and ceilings coverd with immense
masses Of foliage; the long galleries turfed
so as to resemble the most symmetrical
lawns the staircases strewn lavishly with
the roses of Fontenav; the lamps shining
forth from the depths of gigantic leaves
like immense tropical flowers It was a
summer garden-an Eden in the very
centre of Paris
Olympic, countess of Scissors, some
time favorite of the grand monarque,
| niece OF the late allpowerful cardinal,
had imagined this entertainment as a
means Of restoring herself to the good
graces of the king, who had no sympathy
with sorroWful faces and who loved dane
ing very passionately. She had some
right to congratulate herself on the sue
cess of her eXpedient, when Louis HIM
self deigned to suggest, in the graceful
language which was ever the property Of
royalty, that, as shepherds were wont to
celebrate with dances the return of spring,
the ball which the countess WAS about to
give should be invested with the charac-
ter of a fete cbGmpetre, he himself appear
ing in the character of Tircis.
''My dear Olympic" he added softly in
her delighted ear, Il will send you my
violins, !"
Not to be alone in wearing masquerade,
his majesty also expressed his wishes that
there should be quadrille of four shep-
herds with shepherdesses chosen from
the elite Of the court. The music was to
be composed by Baptiste, and the steps
and figures-marvels of intrcacy, light
ness and originality--were to be learned
and practiced in the greatest secrecy.
The evening arrived, and, after open
ing the ball with his cousin Louise of
Orleans, the royal Tircis realizing the
most romantic visions of pastoral beauty
by the grace and suavity of his demeanor
retired to the side Of the young queen.
and throwing himself tateal prepared to
become a spectator of the "guadriHe des
bergers" The violins gave the signal ;
three cavaliers, dressed as shepherds,
advanced, leading their shepherdesses.
But where was the fourth The duchess
of Valentinois, after looking for a mo-
ment helplessly round, appeared alone at
her post. All eyes were Yainly employed
in seeking for the absent shepherd. The
name of of NJ. de Nillequier was repeated
anxiously on all sides. The masters of
| the ceremonies rushed about the rooms
calling for the lost dancer with the most
| lamentable vociferations. The king him
| self was seen to frown, and the general
| distress was at its height, when a young
man, dressed in the ordinary habiliments
of the court, emerged from the crowd and
seized the hand of Nine. de Valentines,
who gave him a friendly smile, and the
quadrille proceeded.
Not only did the unknown execute
with precision the figures which had been
practiced with so much secresy, showing
| himself thereby perfect master of court
mysteries, but he added embroideries of
his own to the complicated steps which
had been combined by the directelr des
baHets himself, and appeared in grace and
| agility as much superior to his compan-
| ions, whose efforts were SO serious and
| studied, as poetry is to prose. Murmurs
/ of astonishment arose on all sides. The
/ assembly, which had been thrown into
such CONSERVATION at the fear OF a ca
| tastrophe which appeared inevitable, was
seized with enthusiasm. But who, then,
was this unknown? A dancing master,
suggested one; but that was negatived
by NJ de la Rochefoucault.
" No amount of study could ever give
I the true nobility of character which dis
tinguished a man well born and bred. |
would engage this gentleman is of the
! best blood in France"
" His name, for PHYS sake !" implored
a dozen melodious voices.
- know it, said NJ. de Villeroy
g He is one of the old illustrious family
of the Caumonts He is called Lanzun.
- A cousin of the Marechal de Gram
mont :"
And Nine. de Valentinois has, OF
course, revealed TO him the secret IN
struotions of the ballet-master All,
now the mystery is cleared up"
What beautiful figure :"
" Not tall, but so light and elegant =
The same style as the king"
" The prettiest leg in the court ~
And such beautiful hair!"
Such wer5 the encomiums passed upon
the Young stranger by the spectators o.
his marvellous debut: and when the king
having summoned him to his side, was
seen leaning gracefully at ease in the
embrasure of a window, his crook laiC
aside. his left hand hidden in the folds o
, his pastoral hath de chalsses, and upon hi
lips that rare smile which was ever so sur
signal of the royal favor, the murmur
! of applause threatened to become almos
: too pronounced for The scrupulous sobri
ETY. of court etiquette.
1t has been said, that if history wer
} only written by historians, absolutel
nothing would be known of it; but