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When Chancellor Maupeou obtained from Louis XV。 the destruction of the Parliament and the exile of all the ancient magistrates； the Mousquetaires were charged with the execution of the commission for this purpose； and at the stroke of midnight； the presidents and members were all arrested； each by two Mousquetaires。 In the spring of 1775 a popular insurrection had taken place in consequence of the high price of bread。 M。 Turgot's new regulation； which permitted unlimited trade in corn； was either its cause or the pretext for it； and the King's household troops again rendered the greatest services to public tranquillity。
I have never be enable to discover the true cause of the support given to M。 de Saint…Germain's policy by the Queen； unless in the marked favour shown to the captains and officers of the Body Guards； who by this reduction became the only soldiers of their rank entrusted with the safety of the sovereign； or else in the Queen's strong prejudice against the Duc d'Aiguillon； then commander of the light…horse。 M。 de Saint… Germain； however； retained fifty gens d'armes and fifty light…horse to form a royal escort on state occasions； but in 1787 the King reduced both these military bodies。 The Queen then said with satisfaction that at last she should see no more red coats in the gallery of Versailles。
From 1775 to 1781 were the gayest years of the Queen's life。 In the little journeys to Choisy； performances frequently took place at the theatre twice in one day： grand opera and French or Italian comedy at the usual hour； and at eleven at night they returned to the theatre for parodies in which the best actors of the Opera presented themselves in whimsical parts and costumes。 The celebrated dancer Guimard always took the leading characters in the latter performance； she danced better than she acted； her extreme leanness； and her weak； hoarse voice added to the burlesque in the parodied characters of Ernelinde and Iphigenie。
The most magnificent fete ever given to the Queen was one prepared for her by Monsieur； the King's brother； at Brunoy。 That Prince did me the honour to admit me； and I followed her Majesty into the gardens； where she found in the first copse knights in full armour asleep at the foot of trees； on which hung their spears and shields。 The absence of the beauties who had incited the nephews of Charlemagne and the gallants of that period to lofty deeds was supposed to occasion this lethargic slumber。 But when the Queen appeared at the entrance of the copse they were on foot in an instant； and melodious voices announced their eagerness to display their valour。 They then hastened into a vast arena； magnificently decorated in the exact style of the ancient tournaments。 Fifty dancers dressed as pages presented to the knights twenty…five superb black horses； and twenty…five of a dazzling whiteness； all most richly caparisoned。 The party led by Augustus Vestris wore the Queen's colours。 Picq； balletmaster at the Russian Court； commanded the opposing band。 There was running at the negro's head； tilting； and； lastly； combats 'a outrance'； perfectly well imitated。 Although the spectators were aware that the Queen's colours could not but be victorious； they did not the less enjoy the apparent uncertainty。
Nearly all the agreeable women of Paris were ranged upon the steps which surrounded the area of the tourney。 The Queen； surrounded by the royal family and the whole Court； was placed beneath an elevated canopy。 A play； followed by a ballet…pantomime and a ball； terminated the fete。 Fireworks and illuminations were not spared。 Finally； from a prodigiously high scaffold； placed on a rising ground； the words 'Vive Louis！ Vive Marie Antoinette！' were shown in the air in the midst of a very dark but calm night。
Pleasure was the sole pursuit of every one of this young family； with the exception of the King。 Their love of it was perpetually encouraged by a crowd of those officious people who； by anticipating the desires and even the passions of princes； find means of showing their zeal； and hope to gain or maintain favour for themselves。
Who would have dared to check the amusements of a queen； young； lively； and handsome？ A mother or a husband alone would have had the right to do it； and the King threw no impediment in the way of Marie Antoinette's inclinations。 His long indifference had been followed by admiration and love。 He was a slave to all the wishes of the Queen； who； delighted with the happy change in the heart and habits of the King； did not sufficiently conceal the ascendency she was gaining over him。
The King went to bed every night at eleven precisely； he was very methodical； and nothing was allowed to interfere with his rules。 The noise which the Queen unavoidably made when she returned very late from the evenings which she spent with the Princesse de Gugmenee or the Duc de Duras； at last annoyed the King； and it was amicably agreed that the Queen should apprise him when she intended to sit up late。 He then began to sleep in his own apartment； which had never before happened from the time of their marriage。
During the winter the Queen attended the Opera balls with a single lady of the palace； and always found there Monsieur and the Comte d'Artois。 Her people concealed their liveries under gray cloth greatcoats。 She never thought she was recognized； while all the time she was known to the whole assembly； from the first moment she entered the theatre； they pretended； however； not to recognise her； and some masquerade manoeuvre was always adopted to give her the pleasure of fancying herself incognito。
Louis XVI。 determined once to accompany the Queen to a masked ball； it was agreed that the King should hold not only the grand but the petit coucher； as if actually going to bed。 The Queen went to his apartment through the inner corridors of the palace； followed by one of her women with a black domino； she assisted him to put it on； and they went alone to the chapel court； where a carriage waited for them； with the captain of the Guard of the quarter； and a lady of the palace。 The King was but little amused； spoke only to two or three persons； who knew him immediately； and found nothing to admire at the masquerade but Punches and Harlequins； which served as a joke against him for the royal family； who often amused themselves with laughing at him about it。
An event； simple in itself； brought dire suspicion upon the Queen。 She was going out one evening with the Duchesse de Lupnes； lady of the palace； when her carriage broke down at the entrance into Paris； she was obliged to alight； the Duchess led her into a shop； while a footman called a 'fiacre'。 As they were masked； if they had but known how to keep silence； the event would never have been known； but to ride in a fiacre is so unusual an adventure for a queen that she had hardly entered the Opera…house when she could not help saying to some persons whom she met there： 〃That I should be in a fiacre！ Is it not droll？〃
From that moment all Paris was informed of the adventure of the fiacre。 It was said that everything connected with it was mysterious； that the Queen had kept an assignation in a private house with the Duc de Coigny。 He was indeed very well received at Court； but equally so by the King and Queen。 These accusations of gallantry once set afloat； there were no longer any bounds to the calumnies circulated at Paris。 If； during the chase or at cards； the Queen spoke to Lord Edward Dillon； De Lambertye； or others； they were so many favoured lovers。 The people of Paris did not know that none of those young persons were admitted into the Queen's private circle of friends； the Queen went about Paris in disguise； and had made use of a fiacre； and a single instance of levity gives room for the suspicion of others。
Conscious of innocence； and well knowing that all about her must do justice to her private life； the Queen spoke of these reports with contempt； contenting herself with the supposition that some folly in the young men mentioned had given rise to them。 She therefore left off speaking to them or even looking at them。 Their vanity took alarm at this； and revenge induced them either to say； or to leave others to think； that they were unfortunate enough to please no longer。 Other young coxcombs； placing themselves near the private box which the Queen occupied incognito when she attended the public theatre at Versailles； had the presumption to imagine that they were noticed by her； and I have known such notions entertained merely on account of the Queen's requesting one of those gentlemen to inquire behind the scenes whether it would be long before the commencement of the second piece。
The list of persons received into the Queen's closet which I gave in the preceding chapter was placed in the hands of the ushers of the chamber by the Princesse de Lamballe； and the persons there enumerated could present themselves to enjoy the distinction only on those days when the Queen chose to be with her intimates in a private manner； and this was only when she was slightly indisposed。 People of the first rank at Court sometimes requested special audiences of her； the Queen then received them in a room wit