Yet in the midst of so many ugly ones I found out a regular beauty.

I enquired who she was.
"She is," answered one of my neighbours, "Madame de Brionne, more remarkable by her virtue even than by her beauty.

Not only is there no scandalous story told about her, but she has never given any opportunity to scandal-mongers of inventing any adventure of which she was the heroine." "Perhaps her adventures are not known." "Ah, monsieur! at the court everything is known." I went about alone, sauntering through the apartments, when suddenly I met a dozen ugly ladies who seemed to be running rather than walking; they were standing so badly upon their legs that they appeared as if they would fall forward on their faces.

Some gentleman happened to be near me, curiosity impelled me to enquire where they were coming from, and where they were going in such haste.
"They are coming from the apartment of the queen who is going to dine, and the reason why they walk so badly is that their shoes have heels six inches high, which compel them to walk on their toes and with bent knees in order to avoid falling on their faces." "But why do they not wear lower heels ?" "It is the fashion." "What a stupid fashion!" I took a gallery at random, and saw the king passing along, leaning with one arm on the shoulder of M.d'Argenson.

"Oh, base servility!" I thought to myself.