The King's Supper.
The king, while these matters were being arranged, was sitting at the supper-
table, and the not very large number of guests for that day had taken their seats
too, after the usual gesture intimating the royal permission. At this period of Louis
XIV.'s reign, although etiquette was not governed by the strict regulations
subsequently adopted, the French court had entirely thrown aside the traditions
of good-fellowship and patriarchal affability existing in the time of Henry IV.,
which the suspicious mind of Louis XIII. had gradually replaced with pompous
state and ceremony, which he despaired of being able fully to realize.
The king, therefore, was seated alone at a small separate table, which, like the
desk of a president, overlooked the adjoining tables. Although we say a small
table, we must not omit to add that this small table was the largest one there.
Moreover, it was the one on which were placed the greatest number and quantity
of dishes, consisting of fish, game, meat, fruit, vegetables, and preserves. The
king was young and full of vigor and energy, very fond of hunting, addicted to all
violent exercises of the body, possessing, besides, like all the members of the
Bourbon family, a rapid digestion and an appetite speedily renewed. Louis XIV.
was a formidable table-companion; he delighted in criticising his cooks; but when
he honored them by praise and commendation, the honor was overwhelming.
The king began by eating several kinds of soup, either mixed together or taken
separately. He intermixed, or rather separated, each of the soups by a glass of
old wine. He ate quickly and somewhat greedily. Porthos, who from the
beginning had, out of respect, been waiting for a jog of D'Artagnan's arm, seeing
the king make such rapid progress, turned to the musketeer and said in a low
voice:
"It seems as if one might go on now; his majesty is very encouraging, from the
example he sets. Look."
"The king eats," said D'Artagnan, "but he talks at the same time; try and manage
matters in such a manner that, if he should happen to address a remark to you,
he will not find you with your mouth full - which would be very disrespectful."
"The best way, in that case," said Porthos, "is to eat no supper at all; and yet I
am very hungry, I admit, and everything looks and smells most invitingly, as if
appealing to all my senses at once."
"Don't think of not eating for a moment," said D'Artagnan; "that would put his
majesty out terribly. The king has a saying, 'that he who works well, eats well,'
and he does not like people to eat indifferently at his table."
"How can I avoid having my mouth full if I eat?" said Porthos.
"All you have to do," replied the captain of the musketeers, "is simply to swallow
what you have in it, whenever the king does you the honor to address a remark
to you."
"Very good," said Porthos; and from that moment he began to eat with a certain
well-bred enthusiasm.
