d, the end was still
distant, and there were probably not a thousand men in the whole of
Europe who foresaw the nature of it, albeit that a thirtieth or a
fortieth part of them may have been in Compiegne at the very time when
the Emperor, in his elegantly appointed break, drove from the Place du
Chateau amidst the acclamations of the serried crowds lining the roads.

On the day of the arrival of the Emperor--the train reached Compiegne
about four--there was neither dinner-party nor reception at the Chateau.
The civil and military authorities of Compiegne went to the station to
welcome the Imperial couple, the rangers of Compiegne and Laigue forests
waited upon his Majesty to arrange the programme, and generally joined
the Imperial party at dinner; but the fetes did not commence until the
second day after the arrival, _i. e._ with the advent of the first batch
of guests, who reached the Chateau exactly twenty-four hours after their
hosts.

CHAPTER XV.

Society during the Empire -- The series of guests at Compiegne --
The amusements -- the absence of musical taste in the Bonapartes
-- The programme on the first, second, third, and fourth days --
An anecdote of Lafontaine, the actor -- Theatrical performances
and balls -- The expenses of the same -- The theatre at Compiegne
-- The guests, male and female -- "Neck or nothing" for the
latter, uniform for the former -- The rest have to take "back
seats" -- The selection of guests among the notabilities of
Compiegne -- A mayor's troubles -- The Empress's and the
Emperor's conflicting opinions with regard to female charms --
Bassano in "hot water" -- Tactics of the demi-mondaines --
Improvement from the heraldic point of view in the Empress's
entourage -- The cocodettes -- Their dress -- Worth -- When every
pretext for a change of toilette is exhausted, the court ladies
turn themselves into ballerinas -- "Le Diable a Quatre" at
Compiegne -- The ladies appear at the ball afterwards in their
gauze skirts -- The Emperor's dictum with regard to
ballet-dancers and men's infatuation for them -- The Emperor did
not like stupid women -- The Emperor's "eye" for a handsome woman
-- The Empress does not admire the instinct -- William I. of
Prussia acts as comforter -- The hunt -- Actors, "supers," and
spectators -- "La Comtesse d'Escarbagnas" -- The Imperial
process