His beard, worn a la Richelieu,--a mustache and a tuft on the chin,--was snow white, and his hair, which was thin, hung in long white waves almost to his shoulders.

He walked with a stoop and wore spectacles, the glasses of which were slightly colored.

Being an ecclesiastic, though not a priest, he wore no wig; but he was of the Order of the Cordon Bleu, and wore, in addition to his badge and blue ribbon, a sword beneath his long coat.

It was the first time I had ever seen an ecclesiastic wearing a sword, though it has since become common in France, where there are many "Abbes" who are neither priests nor in orders.
The Abbe spoke poor English, therefore the conversation was carried on in French, much to the annoyance of some of our guests, who pretended to a greater knowledge of that language than they possessed.
Soon after my presentation to the Abbe, the king arrived, and we all went out to the supper table, where the Abbe's chair was on the king's right, with De Grammont on his Majesty's left.

After the king had been seated a moment, he rose and asked us to be seated; so we took our places, all save the king dropping our hats beside us on the floor because of his Majesty's presence.
I sat next to De Grammont, almost opposite the Abbe, and had a good opportunity to observe the French emissary.