They were composed of from ten to fifteen persons, and the regent's presence among them sometimes added to their license and freedom, but never restrained it. At these suppers, kings, ministers, chancellors, ladies of the court, were all passed in review, discussed, abused; everything might be said, everything told, everything done; provided only that it were wittily said, told, or done. When all the guests had arrived, the doors were closed and barred, so that it was impossible to reach the regent until the following morning, however urgent might be the necessity. Dubois was seldom of the number, his bad health forbade it; and this was the time chosen to pick him to pieces, at which the regent would laugh as heartily as any one. Dubois knew that he often furnished the amusement of these suppers, but he also knew that by the morning the regent invariably forgot what had been said the night before, and so he cared little about it. Dubois, however, watched while the regent supped or slept, and seemed indefatigable; he appeared to have the gift of ubiquity. When he returned from Rambouillet, he called Maitre Tapin, who had returned on horseback, and talked with him for an hour, after which he slept for four or five, then, rising, he presented himself at the door of his royal highness; the regent was still asleep. Dubois approached the bed and contemplated him with a smile which at once resembled that of an ape and a demon. At length he decided to wake him. "Hola, monseigneur, wake up!" he cried. The duke opened his eyes, and seeing Dubois, he turned his face to the wall, saying-- "Ah! is that you, abbe; go to the devil!" "Monseigneur, I have just been there, but he was too busy to receive me, and sent me to you." "Leave me alone; I am tired." "I dare say, the night was stormy." "What do you mean?" asked the duke, turning half round. "I mean that the way you spent the night does not suit a man who makes appointments for seven in the morning." "Did I appoint you for seven in the morning?" "Yes, yesterday morning, before you went to St. Germains." "It is true," said the regent. "Monseigneur did not know that the night would be so fatiguing." "Fatiguing! I left table at seven." "And afterward?" "Well! what afterward?" "Are you satisfied, monseigneur, and was the young person worth the journey?" "What journey?" "The journey you took after you left the table at seven." "One would think, to hear you, that from St. Germains here, was a long distance." "No, monseigneur is right; it is but a few steps, but there is a method of prolonging the distance." "What is that?" "Going round by Rambouillet." "You are dreaming, abbe." "Possibly, monseigneur. I will tell you my dream; it will at least prove to your highness that even in my dreams I do not forget you." "Some new nonsense."