"The Baron said to me, 'Did you not tell us you had never been to Court before?'
"I answered that I had not; and, indeed, my débutant dress and ignorance were sufficient witness to it.
"'You must, then, have all the honours,' he said. 'He who comes up for the first time registers his genealogy and has a right to ride in the King's carriages.'
"'Then it is a great thing to ride in the King's carriages?'
"'My dear friend, it is the right of the noble,' replied he, a little surprised.
"'Ah, yes, my mother once told me so,' said I. (Dear mother, is it not true that you said it?)
"'You shall also play cards with the Queen in the evening.'
"'Oh, no,' gasped I.
"'You must,' he returned. 'This honour also is indispensable. After your début is over you can be as modest as you please.'
"We arrived by that time at the end of a corridor and before a lofty chamber, the doors of which were emblazoned in colours with the arms and devices of France. Within we found the royal genealogist sitting in his robes of office with the heralds of the royal orders. Round about were large volumes, the registers of the noblesse, which they were consulting respecting the parchment titles produced by young gentlemen in person or through their secretaries; and I was told that before being presented one must show certificates of descent in both lines since the fourteenth century. I was so shocked at my situation that I became angry, so that, when the King's genealogist stretched out his hand for my papers, I answered proudly, 'I have none.'