THE LAST CHASSE OF CHARLES X. 175 



composed one of an armed mob that marched upon Earn- 

 bouillet. 



The chasse continued to go on badly. The king sent 

 word to Monseigneur the Dauphin that he was about to 

 return, but at the same time authorized the field to continue 

 the pursuit of the animal, after which he entered his carriage 

 and disappeared on the road to Gazzeran. 



The drive from the Croix de Vilpert to the chateau occu- 

 pied but a few minutes, and was performed in perfect silence. 

 The king did not utter a syllable, and nothing was heard 

 but the trampling of horses and the distant sound of the 

 French horns attendant on the chasse. 



Soon they entered the Avenue de Paris, at the extremity 

 of which was situated the chateau, with its curious and 

 irregular aspect and large crenelated tower. On leaving 

 the carriage, Charles X., after contemplating for some time 

 these vestiges of the ancient memoir of the Sire Jacques 

 Dangennes, said, in a very unaccustomed tone of voice 



" Our ancestor, Frangois I. died at this place after a 

 hunting party, and I am, no doubt, destined to the same 

 fate." 



Whilst awaiting dinner, the king passed some -minutes in 

 a small salon adjoining the salle a manger, and whilst his 

 majesty, who evidently sought to distract his mind from the 

 weight of its reflections, took part in a game of billiards, 

 the dauphin amused himself by tracing out upon an 

 immense map of the forest the course that the stag had 

 taken. 



The dinner passed in mournful silence. Upon rising 

 from table, the king, who appeared more and more taciturn, 

 took the arm of the first hunstman, who was himself absorbed 

 in his own reflections. They passed together out upon the 

 balcony, which looked over the gardens of the chateau. 

 Both were silent for some time. 



