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Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 102, June 25, 1892 By: Various |
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VOL. 102 June 25, 1892 "VERSAILLES" IN LEICESTER SQUARE. (OR, THE NEW BALLET AT THE EMPIRE, AS IT APPEARS THROUGH MR. PUNCH'S
PINCE NEZ.) TABLEAU I. The Park at Versailles. " Gardeners ," according to the
"Argument" supplied with programmes, " are seen busily preparing for
the arrival of King Louis the Fourteenth and his Court. " If tickling
the gravel gently with brooms, and depositing one petal a piece
in large baskets is "busily preparing," they are . The Gardeners,
feeling that they have done a very fair afternoon's work, dance a
farandole in sabots , after which Ladies and Cavaliers arrive
and prepare to dance too; the Cavaliers select their partners by
chasing them on tiptoe, the Ladies run backwards, and coyly slap
their favourites' faces with bouquets. Here, according to Argument,
" refreshments are served by Pages ." Don't see any; these particular
Pages seem to have been cut. Dance follows: the Vicomte Raoul de
Bragelonne arrives, but stands apart, taking no part in the dance,
and looking melancholy. Fancy he is wishing he had learnt dancing in
his boyhood, or else waiting for the refreshments to be served. On
referring to Argument, however, discover that " his mind is occupied
by thoughts of Louise de Lavallière, who was betrothed to him in her
childhood. " Stupid not to see this for oneself. So obvious. Enter
Louise . Think Raoul informs her in pantomime that one of the
bows on her dress has "come undone;" she rewards him for this act
of politeness by taking the bow off and pinning it on his breast.
Raoul not satisfied, pleads for another, to put on his hat. Louise
refuses, can't ruin her new frock like that for him . Find I'm wrong
again. Argument says, " he implores her to fulfil the wish of his
own and their parents' hearts by naming the nuptial day. Louise is
confused, and bids him wait. " He retires brokenhearted, in search of
the refreshments, and the Cavaliers, with whom a very little dancing
on gravel and a warm afternoon goes a long way, retire with him. The
ladies, left alone, " now freely express their opinions on the merits
of their late companions ," which seems natural enough. Louise
dissents; doesn't see anything particularly rude in their conduct,
"Cavaliers are like that will rush off for refreshments alone
after every dance and leave their partners." At least, that's how I
understood her. Missed the point again. Argument informs me she has
been answering, " abruptly that the Sun (meaning the King) absorbs her
whole soul, and that she has no thoughts to bestow on mere planets ."
She said all that in a shake of the head and two shrugs, so "abruptly"
is quite the right word. Other ladies annoyed with her, and show it by
walking past and waggling their fingers in her face, which appears to
depress Louise considerably. Then they go out, after the Cavaliers,
or the refreshments. Meanwhile Louis the Fourteenth has entered
at the back and overheard all. He knows what the shake and shrugs
meant, and smiles and nods knowingly to himself. "Oh, I am an
irresistible Monarch, I am!" he seems to be saying. "I'll follow
this up." So he struts down with a fixed smile on his face, like the
impudent young dog he is, and pats his chest passionately at her.
Louise startled. "Don't go away," says Louis in pantomime. "I say,
there's an arbour in that shrubbery, let's go and sit in it do !"
Louise undecided; tries to excuse herself. "Earwiggy? not a bit of
it!" Louis assures her (he wouldn't be so confident about it if he
had seen his Gardeners at work); " come along!" Louise still timid;
suggests spiders. Louis vows that no spider shall harm her while he
lives to protect her, and draws her gently towards the shrubbery; he
does this several times, but on each occasion her dread of insects
returns, and she recoils shrinking. The King puts his arms round
her to give her courage, and at this instant, Raoul de Bragelonne
returns, sees the back of someone embracing the maiden who was
betrothed to him in childhood, draws his sword and recognises his
Sovereign... Continue reading book >>
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