It was by way of a message delivered by the Princess through the medium of Monsieur Desnoyer, that ubiquitous and much favoured dancing-master, who is continually hopping in and out of the history of this period.
The Princess instructed Desnoyer that when the Prince, who kept the dancing-master in his household, asked what they were saying about him at Hampton Court, concerning his adventure on the night of his daughter’s birth, Desnoyer was to reply that the Princess Caroline declared that all of them, excepting the Princess, deserved to be hanged.
“I know,” concluded the Princess, “you would tell this again, Monsieur Desnoyer, though I did not give you leave; but I say it with no other design than that you should repeat it.” Monsieur Desnoyer bowed and departed; but the next time he came to give his dancing lesson at Hampton Court the Princess Caroline hastened to ask him like a woman, full of curiosity, if he had delivered her message to the Prince of Wales.
“Yes, Madame,” responded the man of figures.
“And in the same words?” demanded the Princess.
“Yes, Madame, I have said: Monseigneur, do you know what Madame la Princesse Caroline has charged me to tell you? She said, Monseigneur, saving the respect that I bear you, that your Royal Highness ought to be hanged.”
“And what did he answer?” gasped the Princess, in an agony of expectation.
“Madame,” replied the dancing-master, “he spat in the fire, and then presently replied. ‘Ah! you know what Caroline is, she is always like that.’”
“When you see him again,” replied the Princess, bridling, “tell him that his answer is as foolish as his conduct.”
Just like a loving brother and sister!