A few months after the death of her father, a new child was introduced to Princess Pirouette’s nursery. His name was GarGar. Like Her Royal Highness, GarGar’s father had recently passed away under similar circumstances. “It appears that love of the chase will soon depopulate our ranks more than any war,” remarked Princess Devant when she was introduced to the boy. There was one small consolation to soften the blow of orphanhood for young GarGar; that is, he inherited his father’s title: le comte des Deux Chats. Given his elevated rank, the youngster was considered royal enough to play with a Princess of the Blood.
Pirouette recognized immediately that Monsieur le comte was different from the other children. He rarely obeyed an order. Blatantly disrespectful of anyone of authority, he loved nothing better than seeing adults lose their tempers. Laughing merrily at their red-faced sputtering, he took his beatings with a sangfroid that amazed his elders. Needless to say, Lady Marguerite had her hands full with this one.
Within his first hour in Pirouette’s company, he had the poor Lady weeping into her handkerchief. Running into the arms of Princess Devant, she cried, “I’m afraid I’ll break that poor boy’s neck!” Such displays of emotion only caused the mistress of the house to look upon her with disgust.
“Go back to the nursery, you fool,” said Princess Devant. “You may wish to try another approach with Monsieur le comte. Have you thought of reasoning with him? He’s an intelligent boy. I’m sure he will respond appropriately.”
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