Chapter 13 - Page 2

Wurtemberg was
long the object of the Queen's preferences, and, in the little
court of the corridors and bedchambers, it was the custom
to flatter the Queen by comparisons between the one and
the other that were always favourable to Wurtemberg.
To-day that inequality has ceased. The Queen, by a touching
sentiment, inclined towards little Wurtemberg because
he had lost his mother; now there is no reason why she
should not lean towards the Count de Paris, seeing that he
has lost his father.

Little Michel Ney plays with the two princes every
Sunday. He is eleven years old, and the son of the Duke
d'Elchingen. The other day he said to his mother:

"Wurtemberg is an ambitious fellow. When we play
he always wants to be the leader. Besides, he insists upon
being called Monseigneur. I don't mind calling him
Monseigneur, but I won't let him be leader. One day I
invented a game, and I said to him: 'No, Monseigneur, you
are not going to be the leader. I will be leader, for I
invented the game, and Chabannes will be my lieutenant.
You and the Count de Paris will be soldiers.' Paris was
willing, but Wurtemberg walked away. He is an ambitious fellow."

Of these young mothers of the Château, apart from the
Duchess d'Orleans, Mme. de Joinville is the only one who
does not spoil her children. At the Tuileries, everybody,
even the King himself, calls her little daughter
"Chiquette." The Prince of Joinville calls his wife
"Chicarde" since the pierrots' ball, hence "Chiquette." At
this pierrots' ball the King exclaimed: "How Chicarde
is amusing herself!" The Prince de Joinville danced all
the risquée dances. Mme. de Montpensier and Mme.
Liadères were the only ones who were not decolletees. "It
is not in good taste," said the Queen. "But it is pretty,"
observed the King.