Rex, or Director) now guides? His own huntsmen and prickers: when there
is to be no hunt, it is well said, 'Le Roi ne fera rien (To-day
his Majesty will do nothing). (Memoires sur la Vie privee de Marie
Antoinette, par Madame Campan (Paris, 1826), i. 12). He lives and
lingers there, because he is living there, and none has yet laid hands
on him.

The nobles, in like manner, have nearly ceased either to guide or
misguide; and are now, as their master is, little more than ornamental
figures. It is long since they have done with butchering one another or
their king: the Workers, protected, encouraged by Majesty, have ages ago
built walled towns, and there ply their crafts; will permit no Robber
Baron to 'live by the saddle,' but maintain a gallows to prevent it.
Ever since that period of the Fronde, the Noble has changed his
fighting sword into a court rapier, and now loyally attends his king
as ministering satellite; divides the spoil, not now by violence
and murder, but by soliciting and finesse. These men call themselves
supports of the throne, singular gilt-pasteboard caryatides in that
singular edifice! For the rest, their privileges every way are now much
curtailed. That law authorizing a Seigneur, as he returned from hunting,
to kill not more than two Serfs, and refresh his feet in their warm
blood and bowels, has fallen into perfect desuetude,--and even into
incredibility; for if Deputy Lapoule can believe in it, and call for the
abrogation of it, so cannot we. (Histoire de la Revolution Francaise,
par Deux Amis de la Liberte (Paris, 1793), ii. 212.) No Charolois, for
these last fifty years, though never so fond of shooting, has been in
use to bring down slaters and plumbers, and see them roll from their
roofs; (Lacretelle, Histoire de France pendant le 18me Siecle (Paris,
1819) i. 271.) but contents himself with partridges and grouse.
Close-viewed, their industry and function is that of dressing gracefully