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Post by Leonora Baroni on May 25, 2020 8:26:41 GMT
Felicitations Madame,
Thank you once again for your generous commission. I'm pleased to relate that the Judgement of Paris suite should be completed by the third week of August. It will be possible to arrange a performance of the piece any time thereafter.
Signorina Leonora Baroni
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Post by gaston on May 26, 2020 7:56:25 GMT
At A Fine House On The Rue du Coq...
First Voice: Why, Jeanne! Whatever is the matter ?
Second Voice: We've all been so happy here, Madame la Vicomtesse.
First Voice: I'm glad to hear it - and just plain Ma'am will still suffice. I'm certain you'll be equally happy in your new establishment.
Second Voice: You mean it's as we feared, Ma'am, and that you'll be letting us all go now that you're married ?
First Voice: Of course not, Jeanne! Whatever gave you that idea ?
Second Voice: But surely you'll be moving in with Monsieur le Vicomte now, Ma'am? And he has a staff of his own...
First Voice: Indeed he has and, yes, we will be setting up house together. But we've decided that the Place Royale mansion will be neither big enough for the two or us or adequately reflect our new position in society, so Roland is selling it and purchasing l'Hotel d'Estrée instead. In addition to a coach entrance on the Rue Barbette leading to the stables courtyard, it has a front entrance through a tastefully laid out garden from the Rue des Trois Pavillons. You'll love it, I'm sure.
Second Voice: And we're all to become part of the Hotel staff?
First Voice: Of course! In fact there will be promotions for most of you. Although Billy will remain as my personal coachman, Luc will be First Footman, Gilles will be Head Groom and you yourself will be my Lady's Maid. Roland will pay you all at the standard rates - but I'll continue paying you as I am now too, so you'll all be better off.
Second Voice: Oh, thank you so much Ma'am! I'm sure the others will be delighted too.
First Voice: I'll expect you all to continue to be my eyes and ears, of course...
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Post by Private Ayes on Jun 2, 2020 1:27:47 GMT
From the penny pamphlet, “The True-Life Adventures of Mssr. J.B.”:
'The infantry regiments are foundering on the enemy's battlement!” announced the Colonel of the Royal Dragoons, “The division commander has ordered us to attack!”
“This will be a glorious day for our Regiment!” declared Captain J.B. as he vaulted into the saddle of his black charger
The thunder of hooves all but drowned out the roar of the cannons as the Royal Dragoons covered the open ground to the walls of the Chateau de Lourdes. Enemy fire blossomed all around the cavalry but at last they reached the base of the battlements and raised the scaling ladders left by the infantry.
“TO ME!” cried Captain J.B., waving his saber above his head “For King Louis, France, and Saint Joan!” He quickly scaled the ladder to the top of the battlement.
Two Spanish pikemen approached Captain J.B. He dispatched one Spaniard with a well-placed pistol shot. With a deft parry of his saber, Captain J.B. deflected the thrust from the second Spaniard's pike then ran him through with his riposte.
Captain J.B. leveled his bloodied blade at the Spanish commander who, backed against a wall, looked to his left and right before dropping his sword. “I surrender,” the Spaniard cried in broken French.
Captain J.B. shoved the toward a brawny Dragoon with the order, “Take him prisoner!” then opened the door that the Spaniard had been guarding. Inside were the accumulated spoils of the Spaniard's plunder and a pretty senorita who smiled shyly at Captain J.B.
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Post by Adjutant General on Jun 9, 2020 13:56:23 GMT
At Army HQ...
First Voice: I say, isn't this somewhat irregular ?
Second Voice: What, Sir ?
First Voice: This Arnold d'Blancheur chappie being an Ensign in the Cardinal's Guard? I'm told he's a gentleman, and knows which hand to hold his fork in, but aren't Ensign commissions supposed to be reserved for members of the Nobility...?
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Post by Adjutant General on Jun 10, 2020 7:36:57 GMT
Continued...
Second Voice: With all due respect, Sir, d'Blancheur's promotion to Ensign was secured by merit, which is within regulations. He will need to find a knighthood from somewhere in order to be promoted Captain, however...
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Post by Church Caretaker on Jun 13, 2020 10:41:26 GMT
At the Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre Confessional...
First Voice: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been months since my last confession - since you went away, in fact - and I have again been a regular visitor to the Parisian bordellos. I've tried to contain my base passions, but...it seems a man's needs may not be gainsaid, Father...
Second Voice: Have you considered marriage, my Son? There is no sin attached to such behaviour within the sanctity of marriage - provided the aim is to bring forth children, of course.
First Voice: That is my aim, father, to which end I have been courting Mlle Sabilina Granet. Unfortunately, she seems to have more 'headaches' than all the patients at the Hotel Dieu combined, hence my forays to the Rue Bourdel. My greatest fear, Father, is that in associating with these loose women I become afflicted with a disease which will make a longer union...problematic...
Second Voice: I may have a solution to your dilemma, My Son. I absolve you of all your sins, but as penance you must visit the premises of Jean Cordonier, a bootmaker with premises just outside the Porte St Honoré, and order a pair of boots to these specifications...
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Post by Bessie the Sheep on Jun 13, 2020 10:44:08 GMT
At the Bootmaker's
1st Voice: Why, come in Sir. How may I be of service? A new pair of riding boots, perhaps ?
2nd Voice: Boots certainly, but to these specifications if you please: They must be snug around the foot and ankle, but then increasingly loose above, coming to just below the knee so as not to impede running.
1st Voice: By no means the first such boots I've made Sir. I'm sure you'll be more than...satisfied. I'll just measure your feet individually to ensure a snug fit.
2nd Voice: As to the leather, I'm thinking of tawed white for softness.
1st Voice: White Sir? Most gentlemen ordering these specify black. Less likely to frighten anything in the dark I believe...?
2nd Voice: Really? Oh, I suppose they'd better be black then, but as soft as you can manage.
1st Voice: Black and soft it is Sir. They should be made within the week. Where should I send word when they are ready for a trial fitting?
2nd Voice: To the barracks of the Cardinal's Guard, for the attention of Ensign Arnold d'Blancheur...
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Post by Marketeer on Jun 13, 2020 10:47:44 GMT
At the Les Halles Market...
1st Voice: Ho, Claude ! How's business?
2nd Voice: Quite brisk for the time of year. How about yourself? Shifting many boots?
2nd Voice: A fair number. I've just had an order for another pair of 'Sheep-shaggers'.
1st Voice: A friend of Abbé Lachapelle is he...?
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