PRECEDENCE AT KING'S SUPPER. 121

After the death of M. le Due, a grand discussion on precedence
at the After-suppers, set on foot "by the proud Duchesse d'Or-
leans, was, after an elaborate examination by the King, brought
to a close. The King ordered his determination to be kept
secret until he formally declared it. It is necessary to set forth
in a few words the mechanism of the After-suppers every day..
The King, on leaving table, stopped less than a half-quarter of
an hour with his back leaning against the balustrade of his
chamber. He there found in a circle all the ladies who had
been at his supper, and who came there to wait for him a little
before he left table, except the ladies who sat, who came out
after him, and who, in the suite of the Princes and the Princesses
who had supped with him, advanced one by one and made him
a courtesy, and filled up the remainder of the standing circle ;,
for a space was always left for them by the other ladies. The
men stood behind. The King amused himself by observing the
dresses, the countenances, and the gracefulness of the ladies*
courtesies, said a word to the Princes and Princesses who had
supped with him, and who closed the circle near him on either
hand, then bowed to the ladies on right and left, bowed once or
twice more as he went away, with a grace and majesty unparal-
leled, spoke sometimes, but very rarely, to some lady in passing>
entered the first cabinet, where he gave the order, and. then
advanced to the second cabinet, the doors from the first to the
second always remaining open. There he placed himself in a
fauteuil, Monsieur, while he was there, in another; the
Duchesse de Bourgogne, Madame (but only after the death of
Monsieur), the Duchesse de Berry (after her marriage), the
three bastard-daughters, and Madame du Maine (when she was
at Versailles), on stools on each side. Monseigneur, the Due de
Bourgogne, the Due de Berry, the Due d'Orleans, the two bas-
tards, M. le Due (as the husband of Madame la Duchesse), and
afterwards the two sons of M. du Maine, when they had grown
a little, and D'Antin, came afterwards, all standing. It was the
object of the Duchesse d'Orleans to change this order, and make
her daughters take precedence of the wives of the Princes of