The exhibition was given in
the ball-room. On one side of this, until the night of the
performances, an enclosure was boarded off. Within it, were
compartments in which the ladies dressed and - undressed. At
this operation, as we young husbands discovered, certain
young gentlemen of the court were permitted to assist - I
think I am not mistaken in saying that his Majesty was of the
number. What kind of assistance was offered or accepted,
Castlerosse and I, being on the wrong side of the boarding,
were not in a position to know.
There was a door in the boarding, over which one expected to
see, 'No admittance except on business,' or perhaps, 'on
pleasure.' At this door I rapped, and rapped again
impatiently. It was opened, only as wide as her face, by the
empress.
'What do you want, sir?' was the angry demand.
'To see my wife, madame,' was the submissive reply.
'You can't see her; she is rehearsing.'
'But, madame, other gentlemen - '
'Ah! Mais, c'est un enfantillage! Allez-vous-en.'
And the door was slammed in my face.
'Well,' thought I, 'the right woman is in the right place
there, at all events.'
Another little incident at the performance itself also
recalled the days and manners of the court of Louis XV.
