[To Paris And Prison: Paris by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt]@TWC D-Link book
To Paris And Prison: Paris

CHAPTER VII
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She found that person, I suppose, for she said, "Monsieur de Lowendal!" At that name, a fine-looking man came forward with respectful inclination, and said, "Your majesty ?" "I believe this is a fricassee of chickens." "I am of the same opinion, madam." After this answer, given in the most serious tone, the queen continued eating, and the marshal retreated backward to his original place.

The queen finished her dinner without uttering a single word, and retired to her apartments the same way as she had come.

I thought that if such was the way the queen of France took all her meals, I would not sue for the honour of being her guest.
I was delighted to have seen the famous captain who had conquered Bergen-op-Zoom, but I regretted that such a man should be compelled to give an answer about a fricassee of chickens in the serious tone of a judge pronouncing a sentence of death.
I made good use of this anecdote at the excellent dinner Silvia gave to the elite of polite and agreeable society.
A few days afterwards, as I was forming a line with a crowd of courtiers to enjoy the ever new pleasure of seeing the king go to mass, a pleasure to which must be added the advantage of looking at the naked and entirely exposed arms and bosoms of Mesdames de France, his daughters, I suddenly perceived the Cavamacchia, whom I had left in Cesena under the name of Madame Querini.

If I was astonished to see her, she was as much so in meeting me in such a place.

The Marquis of Saint Simon, premier 'gentilhomme' of the Prince de Conde, escorted her.
"Madame Querini in Fontainebleau ?" "You here?
It reminds me of Queen Elizabeth saying, "'Pauper ubique facet.'" "An excellent comparison, madam." "I am only joking, my dear friend; I am here to see the king, who does not know me; but to-morrow the ambassador will present me to his majesty." She placed herself in the line within a yard or two from me, beside the door by which the king was to come.


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