VOL. 102

June 25, 1892

“Versailles” In Leicester square.

(Or, the new ballet at the Empire, as it appears through Mr. PUNCH’S Pince-Nez.)

Tableau I.—­The Park at Versailles. “Gardeners,” according to the “Argument” supplied with programmes, “are seen busily preparing for the arrival of King Louis the Fourteenth and his Court.” If tickling the gravel gently with brooms, and depositing one petal a-piece in large baskets is “busily preparing,” they are.  The Gardeners, feeling that they have done a very fair afternoon’s work, dance a farandole in sabots, after which Ladies and Cavaliers arrive and prepare to dance too; the Cavaliers select their partners by chasing them on tiptoe, the Ladies run backwards, and coyly slap their favourites’ faces with bouquets.  Here, according to Argument, “refreshments are served by Pages.”  Don’t see any; these particular Pages seem to have been cut.  Dance follows:  the Vicomte Raoul de Bragelonne arrives, but stands apart, taking no part in the dance, and looking melancholy.  Fancy he is wishing he had learnt dancing in his boyhood, or else waiting for the refreshments to be served.  On referring to Argument, however, discover that “his mind is occupied by thoughts of Louise de Lavalliere, who was betrothed to him in her childhood.” Stupid not to see this for oneself.  So obvious.  Enter Louise.  Think Raoul informs her in pantomime that one of the bows on her dress has “come undone;” she rewards him for this act of politeness by taking the bow off and pinning it on his breast. Raoul not satisfied, pleads for another, to put on his hat. Louise refuses, can’t ruin her new frock like that for him.  Find I’m wrong again.  Argument says, “he implores her to fulfil the wish of his own and their parents’ hearts by naming the nuptial day.  Louise is confused, and bids him wait.” He retires brokenhearted, in search of the refreshments, and the Cavaliers, with whom a very little dancing on gravel and a warm afternoon goes a long way, retire with him.  The ladies, left alone, “now freely express their opinions on the merits of their late companions,” which seems natural enough. Louise dissents; doesn’t see anything particularly rude in their conduct, “Cavaliers are like that—­will rush off for refreshments alone after every dance and leave their partners.”  At least, that’s how I understood her.  Missed the point again.  Argument informs me she has been answering, “abruptly that the Sun (meaning the King) absorbs her whole soul, and that she has no thoughts to bestow on mere planets.”  She said all that in a shake of the head and two shrugs, so “abruptly” is quite the right word.