My tailor,
Duchesne, takes three inches from my coat-tails, and all the armies and
fleets of France cannot prevent him. Who is this?'
He had picked up a very gorgeous figure in a green coat.
'That is the grand master of the hunt, Sire.'
'Then it is you, Berthier. How do you like your new costume? And this
in red?'
'That is the Arch-Chancellor.'
'And the violet?'
'That is the Grand Chamberlain.'
The Emperor was as much amused as a child with a new toy. He formed
little groups of the figures upon the table, so that he might have an
idea of how the dignitaries would look when they chatted together.
Then he threw them all back into the basket.
'Very good,' said he. 'You and David have done your work very well,
Isabey. You will submit these designs to the Court outfitters and have
an estimate for the expense. You may tell Lenormand that if she
ventures to send in such an account as the last which she sent to the
Empress she shall see the inside of Vincennes. You would not think it
right, Monsieur de Laval, to spend twenty-five thousand francs upon a
single dress, even though it were for Mademoiselle Eugenie de Choiseul.
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