In the extracts from the Duchess of Orlean’s Letters, we find, that
Queen Christina, of Sweden, (who was as peculiar in her night dress,
as in almost every thing else, and who, instead of a night-cap, made
use of an uncouth linen wrapper,) having spent a restless day in bed,
ordered a band of Italian musicians, from the opera, to approach near
to her curtains, which were close drawn, and strive to amuse her.
After some time, the voice of one of the performers striking her with
singular pleasure, she suddenly thrust her homely, stern, ill-dressed
head from behind the curtains, exclaiming loudly, “_Mort Diable! comme
il chante bien!_” (Death and the Devil! how well he sings!) The poor
Italians, not used to such rough applause, from a figure so hideous,
were unable to proceed, from the terror which they felt, and the whole
concert was at a stand for several minutes.