Lord Broderick sniffed with contempt as he watched the elaborately dressed and peruked lords and ladies of the French court frolic through the gardens of Versailles. He looked heavenward in despair, asked the Lord above for help and suddenly became aware of a hand on his backside. It wasn't the kind of help he'd been expecting but still...he turned his face toward a beautiful woman who's breath contained enough garlic to supply a small restaurant for a month. Without flinching, he was after all in the service of Her Majesty, he gave her his most condescending look.
    "You don't approve of our games, my lord?"
    "Utter foolishness! What type of behavior is this when I've come from Queen Elizabeth with the offer of an alliance against Spain? Who the blazes are you anyway?"
    "I'm a friend, my name is Arletty. You must understand that it is the first day of April. It is a custom with us to play little jokes on each other on this day."
    "But the alliance against Spain..."
    "Not so loud, my lord. Spain has emissaries here too. If they discover your mission your life will be in great danger."
    "Danger? From that lot?" He gave his most disparaging sniff as he watched them running about on the great lawn.
    "We take our games deadly seriously, my lord. You mustn't be deceived by appearances. You must trust no one!"
    Lord Broderick began to suspect something was amiss with this woman. Something suddenly didn't feel right. He had it! Her hand was no longer on his backside. Or was it? He reached back as discreetly as her proximity allowed and felt something strange on his trousers. Something flimsy was attached to his rump. He quickly seized it and thrust under Arletty's nose.
    "What's the meaning of this...this...paper fish?"
    "Ah, you have discovered my little rouse. It is our favorite little prank called Le Poisson d'Avril. I hope you are not offended. In fact it is a great honor to be included in our games. His Majesty will be most pleased if you play along with us."
    "His Majesty will be pleased? That's all right then. You may put the fish back. Take your time, my dear. Now what sort of capering and cavorting is most likely to please his majesty? I don't even see him about."
    "He is by the fountain on the other side of those hedges. You would like to meet him? I know, sneak up and put the paper fish on the Royal Derriere, he will be most pleased at your knowledge of French culture. Suivez-moi!"
    Lord Broderick took the fish from his own derriere and followed her across the expanse of grass where the French nobility were making fools of themselves. As they neared the gap in the hedges the women suddenly grabbed Lord Broderick by the arm and pulled him through with great haste.
    "Alas! We have been observed by one of them!"
    "What shall we do?" The Englishman looked around apprehensively at the maze of hedges.
    "Go to the center of the maze. You'll find his Majesty there. Meanwhile I'll walk back to distract them. Go!"
    Arletty pushed Lord Broderick forward and disappeared the way they had come in. The frightened Englishman hurried toward what he thought must be the center of the maze but soon became disoriented. He'd been in many mazes in England but this was larger and more elaborate than any he'd seen before. He stopped and tried to get his bearings by listening to the distant laughter. It was far away now but there was another sound. It sounded like someone brushing against the other side of the hedge. His imagination invoked an assassin with a rapier gauging his target by the panting of his breath. Maddened with terror Lord Broderick ran frantically through the maze. He was beginning to despair of ever finding his way out when he suddenly burst into the clearing at the center. There was a shallow goldfish pond with a marble fountain in the middle. He could just see the blonde curls of an elaborate peruke through the thin layer of falling water. His Majesty! The Englishman waited only a moment to catch his breath before sneaking around the fountain with the paper fish. His jaw dropped.
    "Arletty! Where's the King?"
    "Oh, there you are. I've been waiting for you. Alas, His Majesty is otherwise occupied at the moment with the Spanish ambassador. A matter of an alliance, I think. I hope you're not too disappointed."
    "You tricked me! This is another of your damnable pranks!" The Englishman moved toward her menacingly.
    "Ah, you are angry. Let me make it up to you." Arletty gracefully rose and deftly moved her hand toward Lord Broderick's hind quarters. The ambassador was prepared to make the best of a bad situation but he hadn't quite realized how bad it was until Arletty's nimble fingers thrust the stiletto into him. His lifeless body slumped forward into the pond where his unseeing eyes engaged in a staring contest with a perplexed goldfish. Arletty took the paper fish from the ambassador's hand and fixed it to his backside.
    "I warned you not to trust anyone."