Le Journal de Paris de janvier 1624

More financial scandals hit the Marquis of Sillery

Enquiries at the exchequer continue

The financial rumours surrounding Pierre Brulart, Marquis of Sillery, have intensified with the discovery that he had been involved in the overcharging of the fees for officer's commissions in our brave regiments. Although the amount of the surcharge is quite small (10 crowns in general¹), the combination of this new problem, together with the earlier irregularities that are still under investigation, many at the royal court are being to question whether it is time for a new Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and if so, who?

The furore over the commission charges may have been the cause for the rejection of several of our new young gentleman's applications to join a regiment. Among the affected are Albert Kestrel, Aline Yar and Marius Thibodeaux - better luck next time!

Albane Bacque's door being repainted

After several quite unsuitable suitors beat a path to Albane Bacque, the well renowned young lady, her front door is being repainted with a brilliant white finish in an attempt to discourage those suitors whom she would rather not have to send her butler to stop them from blackening her door.²

Frontier Regiments welcome new recruits

Several recent arrivals have opted to support France by becoming members of the Frontier Regiments for the winter campaigning season. Côte de Boeuf and Fourier Transformée have been accepted into the elite Royal North Highland Regiment, while Alembic D'Gustion and Harry Covert join the regular troops of the Expeditionary Regiment. M. D'Gustion looked particularly dashing in his new blue uniform³. This winter season campaign is occupied with an attempt to gain ground in the Spanish Netherlands in readiness for the main summer cmapaign⁴.

Gisèle Barthélemy's Lucky Month

Feather Fan presented by Guillame De Batz to Gisèle Barthélemy

During the first week of janvier, Gisèle Barthélemy was courted by the dashing Guillame De Batz who wined and dined the young lady in a manner that she was very happy become accustomed to. In fact, she became so accustomed to it that after pledging herself to M. De Batz, she was able to enjoy the same again courtesy of Phillipe Lemoine in the following week. Gisèle was very even handed about the affair and has now pledged herself to M. Lemoine⁵. As a result of her fickle nature, Guillame De Batz now has cause to issue a challenge to a duel with Phillipe Lemoine⁶.

Impromptu Race Planned

Porte Saint-Honoré

Not content with his stunning appearance at the first showing of La Reine d'Ecosse at the Hôtel de Bourgogne (where he was showing off the latest in Paris fashion despite only recently being arrived in Paris), we are hearing rumours that Phillipe Lemoine is organising a race to be held during the first week of février at the Horsemarket (just outside Porte Saint-Honoré). However this will be no ordinary horse race as M. Lemoine has been seen inquiring of the whereabouts of unusual animals in the city and has been pointed to those private collections known as menageries as the most likely source of such creatures as ostriches, armadillos and llamas, the gentlemen also appears to be looking for mythical creatures such as kangaroos (apparently some form of giant rabbit). Also involved in this scheme, and presumably before he discovered Phillipe Lemoine's affair with Gisèle Barthélemy, is Guillame De Batz who has been telling all and sundry (or, at least, those that matter) about the scheme and has been handing out ostrich feathers (and cards) to remind people about the event. One also hopes that the Commissioner for Public Safety doesn't decide that the event is a cover for some other activity⁷.⁸

Flora Pernet and Marius Thibodeaux

After rebuffing Jean Huile's approaches earlier in the month, Flora Pernet has been charmed by Marius Thibodeaux's poetry and two have been sharing evenings together⁹. We have managed to smuggle out the following as an example of the art:¹⁰

Where Flora treads, a myriad buds burst forth
And shew their perfumed petals in her train
And I, inhaling deep, know well her worth
And pray that she will bid me not refrain

Groovy heads to Provence

The business requirements of being a pirate (or, at least, of being a pirate's descendent) have forced Groovy to head out of town and to the rural wilds of Provence for the time being. We hope to see his return to Parisian society once he has sorted out all the problems with Provence (either that or once he has drunk all the available wine!)

Regimental News

Grand Duke Maximillian Dragoons

Omer Dalors appointed captain of A troop. Roget Thésaurus joins E troop as a private.

Royal Marines

Sir Alex Kuzbidon joins C company as a subaltern.

Picardy Musketeers

Jean Huile joins D company as a private.

Personal Notices

Albert Kestrel: I'm looking to make mutual connections and explore ways of advancing our mutual standing. Looking to meet up at Red Phillips or other venues, perhaps at the fencing master¹²? -- Roget Thésaurus