An alcove slightly away from the 1st and 2nd members.... 3rd member: I just overheard those two bickering about Grosscanard up to his old mistress stealing antics again and something about that other fellow from "M. Inky's" old regiment who is no doubt after Grosscanard's blood now too. Why he still picks on him I don't know, after all he is a very well accomplished officer who is reputedly better in command than the, err, what was it he calls himself again, "Acting Adnauseam-General"? 4th Member: Quite, the big-headed bureaucratic one. I think he's actually got the job now - well on paper at least, let's face it he always has _acted_ his ranks and appointments so I imagine he will continue to do the same with this new post. He hasn't the first clue what he's really doing has he? 3rd Member: No, I very much doubt it. I think he imagines he can take power over Paris by bonking everybody on the head with his weighty volumes of red tape. I don't think he will have much further success. I hear he has thrown his money away on lavish parties and cannonballs to impress the Royals. After all he has been busy brown-nosing his way into court for years now and by all accounts.... 4th Member: Shh! .....<pause>... Ok, they've gone. Sorry old fellow, what were you saying? 3rd Member: I'm sure you must have heard this already. It's just that people say he isn't getting any umm, you know, "right-royal-booty" as it were. Rumor has it that she won't go near _his_ "crown jewels". 4th Member: Doesn't surprise me, after all his own wife left him for his lack of "good flint" if you know what I mean. 3rd Member: Ha ha! Oh yes indeed, all Paris knows of his little "pocket pistol" which is never more than half-cocked at best - consequently he was always been just a "flash-in-the-pan" to the ladies of Paris and can't discharge his err, duties....
