CHARACTERS. . 



775 



twice at Vitry le Frar^ais, and 

 often at dilicrciit country seats, 

 where tails, concerts, and feasts of 

 every kind, were given in honour 

 of him. At Vitry he was splendidly 

 and conveniently lodged at the house 

 of Madame de Rambecour, whose 

 husband closely fallowed all his 

 footsteps, waited upon him Mith the 

 most attentive zeal, and served him 

 like a valet. On St. Louis's day, a 

 superb fete was prepared for him, 

 it bein;; the feast of the Saint whose 

 name he bore. The ladies sung 

 songs composed in honour of him. 

 In the confidential circles which he 

 frequented, they always called him, 

 mon prince I His portrait was hand- 

 ed about as that of the dauphin, and 

 it was reported that the pope him- 

 self had imprinted a mark on his 

 leg, to know him again by. Finally 

 a letter was handed about from a 

 bishop, in which this deluded pre- 

 late writes in expressions of the pro- 

 foundcst rcspeft for this young va- 

 gabond ; and, by his example, con- 

 viuccd many who were still waver- 

 ing in their belief. Already Mas a 

 court formed round Louis XVIL ; 

 he had immediately his favourites, 

 and was going to notninatc those 

 who were to hold the great offices 

 of his household. Many nanies of 

 consequence were to be found 

 amongst them. They all glowed 

 with enthu.siasm, and prepared to 

 make the greatest sacrilices. Men 

 of birth and rank deemed themselves 

 fortunate in being able to perform 

 the meanest drudgery of menial ser- 

 vice for him. Misers turned spend- 

 thrifts, that they might have the ho- 

 no\ir of entertaining him. It was 

 very natural that such proceedings 

 should not escape the eye of a vigi- 

 lant ])olice. Fouchc was informed 

 l^t Paris of all tliat was going for- 



ward at Vitry ; and a warrant put 

 an end to the farce. 



But when even taken into custo- 

 dy, Hervagault conduced himself 

 with a loftiness and dignity that 

 struck all present with a kind of 

 dubious awe. His most downcast 

 confidan!s surrounded him with the 

 most heartfelt reverence ; one of 

 them, highly moved, begged leave 

 to embrace him, and the taylor's 

 son negligently tendered his hand to 

 kiss. The very first night of his in- 

 carceration, a most splendid feast 

 was given at the prison. Interces- 

 sions were made for his release upon 

 bail, but in vain ; all that could ha 

 obtained was to mitigate, as mucli 

 as possible, the rigours of his cap- 

 tivity. - lie was constantly served 

 in tlie most sumptuous manner, and 

 so accustomed to his high style of 

 living, that once a chicken, a pi- 

 geon, with a sallad and custard, be- 

 ing served for his sapper, hs 

 thought proper to find the fare in- 

 complete, and indignantly dashed 

 the mess on the ground. Aduet, 

 the notary, called him, in his prison, 

 Monseigneur, and was most graci- 

 ously rewarded with the appellation 

 of, mon petit page, mon petit ralet 

 de chambre d'amltie. Thus he act* 

 ed his part dispassionately, and with 

 an air of the utmost importance. 

 — Going to mass, a servant car, 

 ried his prayer-book and cushion. 

 Ho appointed a secretary, and mad« 

 him sign in his name that of Louis 

 Charles. Whero a man bears a 

 great name, said he to the justicesj 

 he is sure to be exposed to perse, 

 eution. The mayor of Vitry, owin^ 

 to the great concourse of people, 

 found himself, at hist, under the 

 necessity of ])utting him under close 

 conlinement, and, at the same time, 

 iut(;rcepted the eoormoua suppli<^ 



3 i> 4 Qt 



