| Citation |
SCG-C.773.067
10 May 1773:42 (1951)
London, March 15. Extract of a letter from Paris, March 11.
One of the Princes of the blood, who lately addressed to the
French King a most humiliating recantation, received last
Tuesday night a fine rub for it at the Masquerade. A person
came there in the whimsical habit of a windmill, with a
weather-cock at top. The singularity of the mask attracted
the curiosity of number who flocked round him, when he was
observed to single out particularly for his attack the
Prince above alluded to, who asked him if he knew him?
"Perfectly well, " answered the Mask, "you are one of great
note in the Republic of Letters, ever since the famous one
you wrote to his Majesty."-- To this he added some bold and
cutting reflections. After this he went aside, and sitting
down, appeared to go to sleep. The Prince greatly hurt at
his sarcasms, and yet unwilling to disturb the company, by
having him instantly taken up, went to a centinel, and gave
him orders to mark that mask, and stop him, without making
any noise, as he went out. The mask seemed to stay till the
ball was over, but when they went to awaken him, they found
nothing but the skeleton of the windmill left (much in the
way that Harlequin leaves his doctor's gown in the pantomime
of Mother Shipton.) This trick horridly provoked the Prince,
he desired the Lieutenant-General of the Police to find out,
if possible, who it was; his answer was, that he did not
despair of discovering him, if the mask did not himself make
the windmill. However, he remains hitherto unknown, and it
is generally believed he will continue so.
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