156 SPOUTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



that of Monseigneur le Dauphin. The gates are opened, and 

 the chateau, which is shut up during the rest of the year, is 

 put in readiness to receive guests for a few hours. In the 

 town, those who were not apprised of the royal hunting- 

 party, have observed the equipage of monseigneur, and a 

 general movement amongst the population ensues. Every 

 description of elegant display that the time will admit of is 

 made in the chateaux near Rambouillet, and the proprietors 

 order their horses to be in readiness to join his majesty's 

 suite. 



The king, however, has not yet quitted St. Cloud. The 

 hour of departure has been fixed at midday. His majesty, 

 contrary to his usual custom, has received no member of his 

 family at his lever. The dauphin, who on hunting days 

 could not appear at mass, has gone beforehand to Ram- 

 bouillet, and Madame la Dauphine is absent at Vichy. 



The king never appeared more happy and composed than 

 on that morning. Having finished his toilet, he ordered the 

 windows of the apartment to be opened, that he might 

 judge himself of the beauty of the morning. 



" Aubry," said he to his valet de chambre, " put some gold 

 in my purse. I hunt to-day;" and he leant for some 

 minutes upon the ledge of the window, his looks directed 

 over the plain towards Paris. 



On turning round, the king perceived the daily news- 

 papers on the table. He took up the Moniteur, and read 

 some passages with more than his usual attention. 



" Chantelauze is right," he exclaimed. " It is by the un- 

 interrupted and violent action of the press that the sudden 

 and too frequent changes and variations of our home policy 

 are explained. It will not permit a legitimate and stable 

 government to be established in France ... A turbulent 

 democracy, which has penetrated even our laws, is a bad 

 substitute for legitimate power." 



