Farewell, De Guiche." The reception was to take place in the king's apartments.

In the first place, there were the queens, then Madame, and a few ladies of the court, who had been carefully selected.

A great number of courtiers, also selected, occupied the time, before the dancing commenced, in conversing, as people knew how to converse in those times.

None of the ladies who had received invitations appeared in the costumes of the _fete_, as the Chevalier de Lorraine had predicted, but many conversations took place about the rich and ingenious toilettes designed by different painters for the ballet of "The Demi-Gods," for thus were termed the kings and queens of which Fontainebleau was about to become the Pantheon.

Monsieur arrived, holding in his hand a drawing representing his character; he looked somewhat anxious; he bowed courteously to the young queen and his mother, but saluted Madame almost cavalierly.