their diversity they formed an admirable background."

Stag hunting was even more impressive in ceremonial details. After the
chase the "quarry" was usually held by torchlight at Versailles, in one
of the inner courts, and the ceremony of the quarry was as follows: "When
His Majesty had made known his intentions on the subject, all the
huntsmen with their horns and in hunting-dress came to the place where
the quarry was to be made. On the arrival of the King, who was also in
hunting-dress, the grand huntsman, who had received two wands of office,
gave one to the King, and retained the other. The dogs were held under
the whip about the carcass of the stag until the grand huntsman, having
received the order from the King, gave the sign with his wand that they
should be set at liberty. The horns sounded, and the huntsmen, who while
the hounds were held under the whip had cried, 'Back, dogs! Back!'
shouted now, 'Hallali, valets! Hallali!' When the quarry had been made,
that is to say, when the flesh had been torn from the bones, a valet took
the _forhu_ (the belly of the stag, washed and placed on the end of a
forked stick), and called the dogs, crying, '_Tayaut, tayaut_!' and threw
the _forhu_ into the midst of the pack, where it was devoured at once.
At this instant the fanfares redoubled, and finished by sounding the
retreat. The King returned the wand to the grand huntsman, who at the
head of all the huntsmen followed His Majesty."

In his promenades at Versailles and Trianon any courtiers that chose to
do so were permitted to follow the King. On his return from out-door
recreation His Majesty, after again changing his costume, remained in his
cabinet resting or working. Frequently he passed some time in the
apartments of Madame de Maintenon.

At ten o'clock the captain of the guard announced supper in the chamber
between the Hall of the King's Guards and the antechamber called "Bull's
Eye." This meal was always on a pretentious scale, and was attended at
table by the royal children and numerous courtiers and ladies. When the
last course had been served the King retired to his bedchamber and there
for a few moments received all his Court, before passing into his
Cabinet, where he spent something less than an hour in the company of his
immediate household, his brother seated in an arm-chair, the princesses
upon stools, and the Dauphin and all the other princes standing.

When the King had bid the company g