TABLEAU II.—­Rich hangings have fallen close to the footlights, to represent an “Ante-room in the Palace.”  Attendants bring on two dressing-tables.  Enter the two principal danseuses, who are about to dress for the Grand Ballet, when Lulli, the Composer, and Prevot, the Maitre de dance du Roi, come in and very inconsiderately propose a rehearsal, which of course must be an undress rehearsal—­then and there.  This not unnaturally puts both the ladies out of temper; they object to the ballet-skirts supplied by the Management as skimpy, and one of them throws up her part, which almost reduces Lulli to tears.  The other undertakes it at a moment’s notice, whereupon the first lady tries to scratch her eyes out, and then has a fit of hysterics.  Both ladies have hysterics.  A bell rings and, suddenly remembering that a Royal Ante-room is rather a public place to dress in, they catch up the ballet-skirts and flee, Attendants remove the dressing-tables. Tableau over.  Plot where it was.

TABLEAU III.—­Grand Reception Room in the Palace.  Enter the Queen, sulky, because Louis has taken all the Pages, and only left her a couple of Chamberlains.  Enter Louis, more impudent than ever.  They take their places on a dais; the hangings at head of a flight of steps behind are withdrawn, and the first “Grand Ballet Divertissement” begins. Louis frankly bored, knowing there’s another to come after that.  Ballet charming, but he doesn’t deign to glance at it, gives all his attention to a stuffed lamb on the top of the steps.  Bevy after bevy of maidens disclosed behind hangings, each more bewitching and gorgeously attired than the last—­but they don’t interest Louis,—­or else the presence of the Queen restrains him.  Instructive to note the partiality of the Corps de Ballet.  When Signorina DE SORTIS dances, they are so overcome that they lean backwards with outstretched arms in a sort of semi-swoon of delight.  But the other lady may prance and whirl and run about on the points of her toes till she requires support, and they merely retire up and ignore her altogether.  There is a dancing Signor in pearl grey, who supports first one Signorina and then the other with the strictest impartiality, and finally dances with both together, to show that he makes no distinctions and has no serious intentions.  All this time Louis has been getting more and more restless; now and then he makes some remark, evidently disparaging, to the Queen, who receives it coldly.  But at last he can’t stand it any longer.  “Call this dancing! I’ll show ’em how to dance!” his look says.  “Where’s LOUISE?” And he gets up, pulls himself together, and invites her to come and dance a minuet.  Queen disgusted with him, but pretends not to notice. Louis goes through minuet with extreme satisfaction to himself.  Enter Page with an immense cushion, on which is “a bracelet of great value” (Argument again).