1624 September: Le Mercure françois #6
NEWS FROM PARIS
The officers are back from the front to receive the recognition they deserve. There are quite a few of us who've been waiting for them to tell us in their own words about the events we've read about in the dépêches. Lieutenant-Colonel Armand Lebeau, Brevet Major Bastien Durand, Lieutenant-Colonel Beau Geste, and Major Renné Gade were all surrounded by people asking for details.
Lt-Col Geste had apparently acquired some funds during the summer campaign, as he was seen repaying his loan to the shylocks. Shortly afterwards he bought the rank of Colonel in the 27th Aquitaine Musketeers.
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Pierre Dragos bought a 1-horse trap.
Mjr Gade, Bvt Lt-Col Dragos, and Col Geste were all seen consuming conspicuously.
Monsieur Jacques Lannoy joined Scarron's.
Monsieurs Alexandre Duclos and Gaëtan Lafleche were reported falling ill. Another case of smallpox?
Week 1
Not everyone were at the ball. Bvt Mjr Durand was reportedly badly beaten by thugs when he was returning home from Rue Bourdel.
The Royal Autumn Ball was of course the main event of the week. Lt-Col Lebeau were among the invited officers. He rented a 1-horse trap and arrived appropriately dressed with an unknown lady in a beautiful dress. At the ball he received the title of Chevalier. The king further awarded him a small estate in the village of Lourmarin, Provence.
Col Geste attended church with his paramour, the influential Madmoiselle Andrée Grosjean, donating generously.
Mjr Gade bought a Small House in St. Martin.
Week 2
Col Geste visited Scudery's for some carousing.
Bvt Lt-Col Dragos visited Scarron's for some carousing with his new paramour, the beautiful Madmoiselle Josseline Sylvestre. But the evening did not go well for the young officer. M. Lannoy was also among the visitors, and the two had a heated encounter in which several insults were exchanged. As if that wasn't enough, Mjr Gade arrives to court Mlle Sylvestre. The night ends with the lady leaving with the Mjr Gade in front of an infuriated Bvt Lt-Col Dragos.
Recovering from the assault on him, Bvt Mjr Durand still managed to practice the Cutlass at his regiment.
Week 3
Mjr Gade held an appreciated seminar at the Académie militaire. Among the attendees were Col Geste and, remarkably, Bvt Lt-Col Dragos.
Bvt Mjr Durand attended church and donated conspicuously.
Week 4
Col Geste invited Mjr Gade with paramour Mlle Sylvestre to Scudery's for some carousing. It was noted that Mjr Gade paid for the drinks.
M. Lannoy was seen gambling at Scarron's. As far as we can tell it didn't go too well, and he looked distress when leaving.
Bvt Lt-Col Dragos attended church, donating conspicuously.
Bvt Mjr Durand returned to the barracks of the Royal Normandy Marines for more practice with the cutlass. He seemed to have recovered fully from the bruises he received when assaulted earlier this month.
