Mme. Le Brun was asked by several persons of importance to repeat this supper, but always declined.
That the Marquis de Cubières was present proved to be fortunate, as the King, vexed by the reports he heard of the enormous expense of this supper, spoke to him about it and was promptly undeceived.
However, in the earlier days of Marie Antoinette, especially while she was still Dauphine, the play that went on at court, and in which she took a conspicuous part, was high enough to give rise to grave scandal.
The Queen was in the habit of playing pharaon every evening, and on one occasion she noticed that M. de Chalabre, who kept the bank, whilst he was picking up the money of those who had lost, took advantage of a moment when he thought nobody was looking, to put a rouleau of fifty louis into his pocket.
When every one was leaving she signed to him to remain, and when they were alone said to him—
“Monsieur de Chalabre, I wish to know why you took from the game to-night a rouleau of fifty louis?”
“A rouleau, Madame!”
“Yes, Monsieur; you put it into the right-hand pocket of your coat.”
“Since your Majesty saw me, I must inform the Queen that I removed that rouleau of gold because it is false.”