The Minneapolis journal., 1902-11-17

CHAPTER VIII.
The Little Supper of the Regent.

CHAPTER VIII.
The Little Supper of the Regent.
Paris, city of delights, Paris drunk with
gold mad with the delirium of excesses,
Paris with no aim except joy, no method
but extravaganza, held within her gilded
gates one citadel of sensuality which re-
manned ever an object of mystery, a
cource Of curiosity ever in that dissipated
and pleasure stated city. In the Palais
Royal. back of the regally beautiful gar
dens. back Of the noble rows Of trees, be-
yond the gates of iron and the guards
in uniform. lived Frances regent, in
city of libertines the prince of libertines.
In a city where there were more mis-
tresses than wives, he it was who led the
list of the licentious. In "a city of un-
regulated vice and yet Of exquisitely Or
dered taste, he it was who accorded to
himself daily pleasures which were ad-
mittedly beyond approach. How unspeak-
| ably unbridled how delightfully."- wicked
huw temptingly ingenious in their fea-
| lures the little suppers Of the regent
might be-these We're matters of curious
| interest to all, of intimate knowledge to
| but few.
| It was to one Of these famous yet mys-
| terious gatherings that the regent Of
| France had invited the master OF that
| great glittering bubble house, wherein
| dwelt so insecurely the affairs Of France.
| John Law, director general Of the fnan-
ances, controller Of the Company Of the
Indies, was chosen by Philippe Of Orleans
for the position not granted by the crafty
| Dubois or to the shrewd D'Argenson, the
| last Of that strange trinity who made his
council. John Law, gallant, graceful,
| owner of q reputation as wit and beau
scarce behind that Of his sudden fame as
| financier, was admitted not only to the
business affairs Of the gay duke. but to his
| plea sures as we'll. To him and his brother
the stupendous operations Of the director
! general, there came the invitation of the
regent. practically the command of the
king. to join the regent after the opera for
a little supper at the Palais Royal.
Law would have excused himself from
this unsought honor. Your grace will
observe" said he, that my time is occu-
pied to the full. The people scarcely suf
fer me to rest at night. Perhaps your
grace might not care for company so dull
as mine
"Fie! my friend, my very good friend,'' -
replied Philippe. Have you become
! devot? Whence this sudden change?
| Consider; 'tis no hardship to meet such
| ladies as Madame de Sabran, or Madame
de Prie-designer though I fear De Prize
is for the domestic felicity Of the youthful
| king-nor indeed my good friend, La
|
though she groweth. And what shall
say for Madame de Tencin. the spirituelle
| who Is to be with us; or Madame de Cay
lus. niece Of Maintenon, but the very op
posite Of Maintenon in every possible
way? Moreover. we are promised the at
tendance Of Mademoiselle Aisse. She
| hath become devout Of late, and thinks
| it sin even to powder her hair. but Aisse
! devout Is none the less Aisse the beauti-
| full
'surely your grace hath never lacked in
| excellent TASTE, and that Is the talk of
Paris, -" replied Law. '.'- -T'"@ .':
"Oh. well, long training bringeth per-
| fection in due tinne,'' replied Philippe of
Orleans. composedly, it having no Ill ef-
| feet with him to call attention to his nu-
! merous intrigues. 1T should hardly be
| called poor privilege after all, to witness
| as it shall be displayed this evening, not
| to mention the privilege you will have of
meeting one or two other gentlemen; and
lastly, of course, myself, If you be not
| tired of such company"
| "Your grace,''. replied Law, 'tyou both
| honor and 1atter me-
| "Why, sir. you speak as II this were 8
| new experience. for you. Now, in the
days. Js:: ~-:.
"'Tis true; but Of late years I have
grown grave in the cares of state, as you1
grace may know.'xg-:
| 1Aiio II1OSI cIlAClcuLly, TSpllcU re-
gent. But stay have until the las
my main attraction. You shall witnes!
there. I give. you my word, the making
public of the secret of the fair unknown
who is reputed to have been especially kim
to Philippe Of Orleans for these som,
months past. Join us at the little enter
prise, my friend, and you shall see,
promise you, the most beautiful woman
In Paris, crowned with the greatest gem O
all the world. The regents diamond, tha
great gem which you have made possibl,
for France, shall, for the first time, and TO-
one evening at least, adorn the forehead
OF the regents queen Of beauty
AS the gay words of the regent fell upo1
his ears. there came into Laws heart :
curious tension, presentiment, a feelin,
as though some great and curious thin,
We're about to happen. Yet ever the chal
lenge of danger was one to draw him for
ward, not to hold him back. If for mo
ment he had hesitated, his mind was nov
suddenly resolved :. -:
Your grace" said he. 'your wish Is 70
me command, and certainly in this in
stance is peculiarly agreeable
''As I thought" replied the regent. "Ha
you hesitated, I should have called you
attention to the fact that the table of tn
Palias Royal is considered to possess some
what OF character, The Vicomte de Bech
amel is at the very zenith Of his genius
| 1hS ilC ueIHy pIOOUCeS QlSQ6S SuCh
Paris has not ever dreamed. Moreover
|; we have been fortunate in some recen
additions Of most excellent vim d'Ai
make no doubt, upon the whole, we sha
find somewhat with which to occupy our
selves"
Thus it came about that, upon that even
ing. there gathered at the entrance Of tn
Palais Royal, after an evening with lie
couvreur at the Theatre Francais, som
scattered groups of persons evidently DOS
sessing consequence. The chairs of Others
from more distant locations. threadin
their way through the narrow, dark an
unlighted streets of the old, crude capita
of France. brought their passengers i
time to a scene far different from that q
the gloomy streets.
The little supper Of the regent, arrange
in the private sale, whose decorations ha
been devised for the special purpose, wa
more entrancing than even the glitter c
the mimic world of the Theatre Francai.
; There extended down the center of tn
room. though filling but "a small porto
OF its vast extent, the gran
table provided s., for. the ban
quet, reach Of snowy linen, broken a
the upper end by the arm Of an alb
breviated cross. At each end of thi