The dinner-party was very cheerful. I had never seen Mr. Lambert in such excellent spirits; as for the prince, he seems always in good-humor. After dinner, Mr. Lambert and Mr. Laborde held a short political discussion with the prince in another room. I was admitted to take part in this conversation, and shall have to recur to it. The evening was unfortunately somewhat spoiled for me by the singing chorus. The plentiful repast seemed to have inspired the ladies with peculiar powers, for they screamed much worse than before dinner, and, to increase the noise, clapped their hands as an accompaniment. A few also performed the dreary dance of Madagascar to the sound of the _marovane_, the only instrument yet invented by Malagasey musical genius. It consists of a bamboo, as thick as a man’s arm, and four feet long. Shreds of the bark are fastened all around it, supported by little bridges of wood. The tone is very like that of a bad, worn-out cithern.
As a conclusion, the guests themselves danced, and between the dances Mr. Lambert gave us some very pretty songs.
About ten o’clock Mr. Laborde whispered to me that I should allege the weakness that still remained from my late indisposition as a pretext for breaking up the party. I replied that this was not my province, but that of Prince Rakoto; but he urged me to do it, adding that he had a particular reason for his request, which he would explain to me later; and, accordingly, I broke up the party.
Favored by the brightest of moonlight, we marched up the hill toward our dwellings to the sound of merry music.
Prince Rakoto and Mr. Lambert then called me into a side-chamber, and the prince declared to me once more that the private contract between himself and Mr. Lambert had been drawn up with his full concurrence, and that he, the prince, had been grossly calumniated when he was represented as intoxicated at the time of his signing it. He told me farther that Mr. Lambert had come to Madagascar by his wish, and with the intention, in conjunction with himself and a portion of the nobility and soldiers, to remove Queen Ranavola from the throne, but without depriving her of her freedom, her wealth, or the honors which were her due.