172 SPOUTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



I have before observed, indeed, that those days on which 

 his majesty hunted at Rambouillet were always observed as 

 ajfete by the inhabitants with rigorous exactitude, and often 

 more than two thousand persons were assembled at one 

 point of the forest. 



Louis XVIII. attended one, and one chasse only, at Eam- 

 bouillet, from an episode attendant on which Carle Yernet 

 painted one of his finest pictures. 



The day previous to the one fixed' upon for this cliasse, 

 the Due de Berri went through the forest on horseback. 

 He was alone. In a very solitary part of the woods he met 

 with two men who evidently sought to avoid observation, 

 their countenances denoting some criminal project. The 

 prince addressed them, and their answers only increased 

 his suspicions. Upon pressing them still farther, but with 

 an irresistible kindness of manner peculiar to him, they 

 confessed they were deserters, but appeared repentant and 

 sorry for their crime. 



" Be present to-morrow at the rendezvous de la chasse at 

 the Etang de la Tour," said he, " I will speak in your favour; 

 in the meantime," he added, and giving them some money, 

 " go back to the village." 



The next morning, amidst the crowd assembled at the 

 rendezvous de la chasse, and at the moment when the relays 

 of hounds were posted, the prince was observed to make his 

 way towards the king, leading by the hands two young men, 

 whose courage he supported by kind and encouraging expres- 

 sions. He described, in a few words, their fault, his con- 

 viction of their sincere repentance, and offered himself as a 

 surety for their future good behaviour and fidelity to their 

 colours. 



Louis XVIII. did not hesitate to perform this act of 

 clemency, and granted the pardon that was asked. 



The moment that the painter has chosen is that in which 



