ew from the laundress,
and the gallantest that art could imagine! On a table, ready to her
hand, at the DOSSIER or bed-bead, stood a little Basin silver-gilt,
filled with Holy Water: the rest was decorated with extremely precious
Relics, with a Crucifix, and a Rosary of rock-crystal. Her dress, the
cushions, quilt, all was of Marseilles stuff, in the finest series of
colors, garnished with superb lace. Her cap was of Alencon lace, knotted
with a ribbon of green and gold. Figure to yourself, in this gallant
deshabille, a charming Princess, who has all the wit, perfection of
manner--and is still only thirty-seven, with a beauty that was once so
brilliant! Round the celestial bed were courtiers, doctors, almoners,
mostly in devotional postures; the three young Princes; and a Dame
d'Atours, who seemed to look slightly ENNUYEE or bored." I had the honor
to kiss her Serene Highness's hand, and to talk a great many peppered
insipidities suitable to the occasion.

Dinner followed, more properly supper, with lights kindled: "Only I
cannot dress, you know," her Highness had said; "I never do, except for
the Queen-Mother's parties;"--and rang for her maids. So that you are
led out to the Anteroom, and go grinning about, till a new and still
more charming deshabille be completed, and her Most Serene Highness
can receive you again: "Now Messieurs! Pshaw, one is always stupid,
no ESPRIT at all except by candlelight!"--After which, such a dinner,
unmatchable for elegance, for exquisite gastronomy, for Attic-Paphian
brilliancy and charm! And indeed there followed hereupon, for weeks on
weeks, a series of such unmatchable little dinners; chief parts, under
that charming Presidency, being done by "Grand-Chamberlain Baron de"
Something-or-other, "by your humble servant Bielfeld, M. Jordan, and
a Marquis d'Argens, famous Provencal gentleman now in the suite of her
Highness:" [Bielfeld, ii. 74-78.]--feasts of the Barmecide I much doubt,
poor Bielfeld being in this Chapter very fantastic, MISDATEful to a mad
extent; and otherwise, except as to general effect, worth little serious
belief.

We shall meet this Paphian Dowager again (Crucifix and Myrtle joined):
meet especially her D'Argens, and her Three little Princes more or
less;--wherefore, mark slightly (besides the D'Argens as above):--

"1. The Eldest little Prince, Karl Eugen; made 'Reigning Duke' within
three years hence [Mamma falling into trouble with the STANDE]: a man
still gloo