On the 18th of July, four days after the taking of the Bastille, the Prince Condé, the Duke d’Enghien, M. Vaudrevil, and M. de Broglie were announced.
Their arrival astonished my uncle, as it was not the hunting season; the wood being very thick, the shooting was difficult.
The Prince de Condé replied that he only wished to hunt a stag, the King having commanded him, in the possibility of a war, to examine into the condition of the defences of Verdun.
The courier was ordered to procure horses from Clermont, and to command the two carriages punctually at five o’clock.
So, taking this view of the matter, there was nothing extraordinary in it at all.
The Princes, mindful of the sport they had had, were determined to enjoy another day of it, although it was not the proper season; but they could surely do as they liked.
The Duke d’Enghien commanded me to accompany them.
I said good-bye to my books for the day, took the gun which the Duke had given me, and followed them.
The Prince was then eighteen years of age—not much older than I was. It was probably on account of the similarity of our ages, that I was favored by so much of his notice.
I remarked that, though courteous as usual, he was profoundly sorrowful.