But the opportunity was lost.

The Court of Dublin was, during that season of inaction, busied with dice and claret, love letters and challenges.

The aspect of the capital was indeed not very brilliant.

The whole number of coaches which could be mustered there, those of the King and of the French Legation included, did not amount to forty, [621] But though there was little splendour there was much dissoluteness.

Grave Roman Catholics shook their heads and said that the Castle did not look like the palace of a King who gloried in being the champion of the Church, [622] The military administration was as deplorable as ever.