always
there were games of chance, for gambling was the ruling passion of the
Court.

From the record of Dangeau we read a description of a gay tournament
that took place in the riding-school of the Great Stables of Versailles
on two successive June days:

"The King and Mme. la Dauphine (wife of the heir to the throne) dined
at an early hour, and on leaving table, the King and Monseigneur
entered a carriage. Mme. la Dauphine and many ladies followed in other
carriages. In the court of the ministers, they found all the cavaliers
of the tournament drawn up in two lines; the pages and lackeys were
there also. Monseigneur mounted a horse at the head of one company; M.
le Duc de Bourbon was at the head of the other. The King took his seat
in the place prepared for him.

"The cavaliers first rode round the courtyard of the chateau, passing
under the windows of the young Duc de Bourgogne (grandson of the King)
who was on the balcony. Then they rode out of the gate and down the
Avenue de Paris, and entered the riding-school of the Great Stables by
a gate made near the Kennels. After riding in procession before the
raised seats of the court, they took their posts, twenty cavaliers in
each corner, with their pages and grooms behind them; the drums and
trumpets at the barrier. The subject of the tournament was the Wars of
Granada, and the cavaliers represented the Spaniards and the Moors.
Monseigneur rode a tilt with the Due de Bourbon, and Messieurs de
Vendome and de Brionne rode at the same time to make the figure. . . .
There were three courses run for the prize, which was won by the Prince
de Lorraine. It was a sword ornamented with diamonds, and he received
it from the hand of the King. After the tournament all the cavaliers
conducted the King to the courtyard of the chateau, lance in hand, and
the heads of the companies saluted him with their swords.

"On the fifth, a second tournament was held, and, in spite of the bad
weather, the King found it more beautiful than the first. Many ladies
were present. The Russian envoys, who had not seen the previous fete,
occupied seats at the King's right. During a shower, the spectators
retired quickly, but as soon as it had passed, all the seats were
filled again. The Marquis de Plumartin won the prize. It was a sword
adorned with diamonds, but more costly than that won by the Prince de
Lorraine."

The Fete of Kings celebrated each year was a brilliant affair at
Ve