The word Whiskers still stood its ground, and continued to be made use of in most of the best companies throughout the little kingdom of Navarre , notwithstanding the indiscreet use which La Fosseuse had made of it: the truth was, La Fosseuse had pronounced the word, not only before the queen, but upon sundry other occasions at court, with an accent which always implied something of a mystery—And as the court of Margaret , as all the world knows, was at that time a mixture of gallantry and devotion⸺and whiskers being as applicable to the one, as the other, the word naturally stood its ground⸺it gain’d full as much as it lost; that is, the clergy were for it⸺the laity were against it⸺and for the women,⸺ they were divided.
The excellency of the figure and mien of the young Sieur De Croix , was at that time beginning to draw the attention of the maids of honour towards the terrace before the palace gate, where the guard was mounted. The lady De Baussiere fell deeply in love with him,⸺ La Battarelle did the same—it was the finest weather for it, that ever was remembered in Navarre ⸺ La Guyol , La Maronette , La Sabatiere , fell in love with the Sieur De Croix also⸺ La Rebours and La Fosseuse knew better⸺ De Croix had failed in an attempt to recommend himself to La Rebours ; and La Rebours and La Fosseuse were inseparable.
The queen of Navarre was sitting with her ladies in the painted bow-window, facing the gate of the second court, as De Croix passed through it—He is handsome, said the Lady Baussiere .⸺He has a good mien, said La Battarelle ⸺He is finely shaped, said La Guyol —I never saw an officer of the horse-guards in my life, said La Maronette , with two such legs⸺Or who stood so well upon them, said La Sabatiere ⸻But he has no whiskers, cried La Fosseuse ⸺Not a pile, said La Rebours .