the senses, surely it must
have seemed to him that he had come into another world, which at first
glance might have appeared to be one of an unrighteous ease, an
unprincipled enjoyment and an unmanly abandonment to embowered vice.
Yet here it was that Philippe of Orleans, ruler of France, spent those
hours most dear to him. If he gave thought to affairs of state during
the day it was but that these affairs of state might give to him the
means to indulge fancies of his own. Alike shrewd and easy, alike
haughty and sensuous, here it was that Philippe held his real court.

These young gentlemen of France, these _roues_ who have come to meet
Philippe at his little supper--how different from the same beings under
the rule of the Grand Monarque. Their coats are no longer dark in hue.
Their silks and velvets have blossomed out, even as Paris has blossomed
since the death of Louis the Grand. Jabots of lace are shown in full
abundance, and so far from the abolishment of jewels from their garb,
rubies, sapphires, diamonds sparkle everywhere, from the clasp of the
high ruffles of the neck to the buckles of the red-heeled shoes. Powder
sparkles on the head coverings of these new gallants of France. They
step daintily, yet not ungracefully, into this brilliantly-lighted room,
these creatures, gracious and resplendent, sparkling, painted,
ephemeral, not unsuited to the place and hour.

For the ladies, witness the attire, for instance, of that Madame de
Tencin, the wonder of the wits of Paris. A full blue costume, with
pannier more than five yards in circumference, under a skirt of silver
gauze, trimmed with golden gauze and pink crape, and a train lying six
yards upon the floor, showing silver embroideries with white roses. The
sleeves are half-draped, as is the skirt, and each caught up with
diamonds, showing folds lying above and below the silk underneath.
Madame wears a necklace of rubies and of diamonds, and above the pannier
a belt of diamonds and rubies. Her hair is dressed, following the mental
habit of madame, in the Greek style, and abundantly trimmed with roses
and gems and bits of silver gauze. There is a little crown upon the top
of madame's coiffure. Her bodice, cut sufficiently low, is seen to be of
light silken weave. From her hair depends a veil of light gauze covered
with gold spangles, and it is secured upon the left side by a hand's
grasp of pink and white feathers, surmounted by a magnificent heron
plume of long