From his place in the parterre a subordinate of the 64th
regiment of the line sang, in honor of the Princess, some couplets
expressing the sentiments of his comrades.
The 19th, there was a visit to the ruins of the Chateau of Arques,
immortalized by the victory of Henry IV. An agreeable surprise for
Madame was a comedy for the occasion improvised by the actors of
the Vaudeville. When the Princess presents herself before the
Chateau, a little peasant girl at first refuses her admittance.
She has received orders, she says, from her father and mother to
open to no one, no matter whom. But the air Vive Henri IV. is
heard, and straightway both doors are opened wide to the Princess.
An old concierge and his wife sing piquant verses about their
first refusal to open to her. From here Madame is guided by the
little peasant girl to the entrance of an ancient garden, where
she perceives the whole troupe in the costume of gardeners and
garden girls. She is offered bouquets and escorted to a dairy at
the extremity of the ruins. The band of the guard plays for her
her favorite air, Charmante Gabrielle. A young milk-maid--the
pretty actress Jenny Colon--offers her a cup of milk and sings
couplets that please her greatly. Then comes the husband of the
dairy-maid and recounts to the grand-daughter of Henry IV. the
victory won by her ancestor over the Duke of Mayenne.
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