The time for gathering in the antechamber is at hand.

By the way, I have said nothing to the king of our former knowledge of each other.

There were reasons why it was better not to mention the fact." Rupert nodded as he buckled on his sword and prepared to accompany his friend.
Along stately corridors and broad galleries, whose magnificence astonished and delighted Rupert, they made their way until they reached the king's antechamber.

Here were assembled a large number of gentlemen, dressed in the extreme of fashion, some of whom saluted the marquis, and begged particulars of him concerning the late battles; for in those days news travelled slowly, newspapers were scarcely in existence, special correspondents were a race of men undreamed of.
To each of those who accosted him the marquis presented Rupert, who was soon chatting as if at Saint James's instead of Versailles.

In Flanders he had found that all the better classes spoke French, which was also used as the principal medium of communication between the officers of that many-tongued body the allied army, consequently he spoke it as fluently and well as he had done as a lad.