"
"These were singular marvels to entertain a king withal," said Jack.
"Such were the amusements peculiar to the epoch. It must be observed
that the Louis in question was somewhat close-fisted, and rarely drew
his purse-strings unless he was certain of a good interest for his
money. But courts in those days were very simple and frugal. The
sumptuary laws of Philip le Bel (1285) had fixed supper at three
dishes and a lard soup. The king's own dinner was likewise limited to
three dishes."
"These three dishes might, however, have yielded a better repast than
the fifty-two saucers of the Chinese," remarked Jack.
"No one could obtain permission to give his wife four dresses a year,
unless he had an income of six thousand francs."
"What business had the laws to interfere with these things, I should
like to know?" inquired Mrs. Wolston.
"Those who possessed two thousand francs income were only allowed to
wear one dress a year, the cloth for which was not permitted to exceed
tenpence a yard; but ladies of rank could go as high as fifteen
pence."
"Philip le Bel must have been an old woman," insisted Mrs. Wolston.
"No private citizen was permitted to use a carriage, and such persons
were likewise interdicted the use of flambeaux."
"They were permitted to break their necks at all events, that is
something.
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