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officers waiting in the gallery； complete the influx。 There is quite a
formality in regard to this shirt。 The honor of handing it is reserved
to the sons and grandsons of France； in default of these to the
princes of the blood or those legitimized； in their default to the
grand…chamberlain or to the first gentleman of the bedchamber ； … the
latter case； it must be observed； being very rare； the princes being
obliged to be present at the king's lever； as were the princesses at
that of the queen。＇40＇ At last the shirt is presented and a valet
carries off the old one； the first valet of the wardrobe and the first
valet…de…chambre hold the fresh one； each by a right and left arm
respectively；＇41＇ while two other valets； during this operation；
extend his dressing…gown in front of him to serve as a screen。 The
shirt is now on his back and the toilet commences。 A valet…de…chambre
supports a mirror before the king while two others on the two sides
light it up； if occasion requires； with flambeaux。 Valets of the
wardrobe fetch the rest of the attire； the grand…master of the
wardrobe puts the vest on and the doublet； attaches the blue ribbon；
and clasps his sword around him； then a valet assigned to the cravats
brings several of these in a basket； while the master of the wardrobe
arranges around the king's neck that which the king selects。 After
this a valet assigned to the handkerchiefs brings three of these on a
silver salver； while the grand…master of the wardrobe offers the
salver to the king； who chooses one。 Finally the master of the
wardrobe hands to the king his hat； his gloves and his cane。 The king
then steps to the side of the bed； kneels on a cushion and says his
prayers； whilst an almoner in a low voice recites the orison
Quoesumus； deus omnipotens。 This done； the king announces the order of
the day； and passes with the leading persons of his court into his
cabinet； where he sometimes gives audience。 Meanwhile the rest of the
company await him in the gallery in order to accompany him to mass
when he comes out。
Such is the lever； a piece in five acts。 … Nothing could be
contrived better calculated to fill up the void of an aristocratic
life ； a hundred or thereabouts of notable seigniors dispose of a
couple of hours in coming； in waiting； in entering； in defiling； in
taking positions； in standing on their feet； in maintaining an air of
respect and of ease suitable to a superior class of walking gentlemen；
while those best qualified are about to do the same thing over in the
queen's apartment。
＇42＇ … The king； however； as an indirect
consequence； suffers the same torture and the same inaction as he
imposes。 He also is playing a part； all his steps and all his gestures
have been determined beforehand； he has been obliged to arrange his
physiognomy and his voice； never to depart from an affable and
dignified air； to award judiciously his glances and his nods； to keep
silent or to speak only of the chase； and to suppress his own
thoughts； if he has any。 One cannot indulge in reverie； meditate or be
absent…minded when one is before the footlights； the part must have
due attention。 Besides； in a drawing room there is only drawing room
conversation； and the master's thoughts； instead of being directed in
a profitable channel； must be scattered about like the holy water of
the court。 All hours of his day are passed in a similar manner； except
three or four during the morning； during which he is at the council or
in his private room； it must be noted； too； that on the days after his
hunts； on returning home from Rambouillet at three o'clock in the
morning； he must sleep the few hours he has left to him。 The
ambassador Mercy；＇43＇ nevertheless； a man of close application； seems
to think it sufficient； he； at least； thinks that 〃Louis XVI is a man
of order； losing no time in useless things；〃 his predecessor； indeed；
worked much less； scarcely an hour a day。 Three…quarters of his time
is thus given up to show。 The same retinue surrounds him when he puts
on his boots； when he takes them off； when he changes his clothes to
mount his horse； when he returns home to dress for the evening； and
when he goes to his room at night to retire。 〃Every evening for six
years； says a page；＇44＇ either myself or one of my comrades has seen
Louis XVI get into bed in public；〃 with the ceremonial just described。
〃It was not omitted ten times to my knowledge； and then accidentally
or through indisposition。〃 The attendance is yet more numerous when he
dines and takes supper； for； besides men there are women present；
duchesses seated on the folding…chairs； also others standing around
the table。 It is needless to state that in the evening when he plays；
or gives a ball； or a concert； the crowd rushes in and overflows。 When
he hunts； besides the ladies on horses and in vehicles； besides
officers of the hunt； of the guards； the equerry； the cloak…bearer；
gun…bearer； surgeon； bone…setter； lunch…bearer and I know not how many
others； all the gentlemen who accompany him are his permanent guests。
And do not imagine that this suite is a small one；＇45＇ the day M。 de
Chateaubriand is presented there are four fresh additions； and 〃with
the utmost punctuality〃 all the young men of high rank join the king's
retinue two or three times a week。 Not only the eight or ten scenes
which compose each of these days； but again the short intervals
between the scenes are besieged and carried。 People watch for him；
walk by his side and speak with him on his way from his cabinet to the
chapel； between his apartment and his carriage； between his carriage
and his apartment； between his cabinet and his dining room。 And still
more； his life behind the scenes belongs to the public。 If he is
indisposed and broth is brought to him； if he is ill and medicine is
handed to him； 〃a servant immediately summons the 'grande entrée。' 〃
Verily； the king resembles an oak stifled by the innumerable creepers
which； from top to bottom； cling to its trunk。 Under a régime of this
stamp there is a want of air； some opening has to be found； Louis XV
availed himself of the chase and of suppers； Louis XVI of the chase
and of lock…making。 And I have not mentioned the infinite detail of
etiquette； the extraordinary ceremonial of the state dinner； the
fifteen； twenty and thirty beings busy around the king's plates and
glasses； the sacramental utterances of the occasion； the procession of
the retinue； the arrival of 〃la nef〃 〃l'essai des plats；〃 all as if in
a Byzantine or Chinese court。＇46＇ On Sundays the entire public； the
public in general； is admitted； and this is called the 〃grand
couvert；〃 as complex and as solemn as a high mass。 Accordingly to eat；
to drink； to get up； to go to bed； is to a descendant of Louis XIV； to
officiate。＇47＇ Frederick II； on hearing an explanation of this
etiquette； declared that if he were king of France his first edict
would be to appoint anothe