The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 347: what you’re looking at

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334 The féotman to whom the card was given, ac- cordingly tonk it up to the drawing-room where Christian was seated,—Christina being engaged with dome young lady-friends in the music-room at the time. Our young hero was astonished as well as an- noyed to find that his former acquaintances of Mivart’s Hotel had turned up again. He however thought it would be too discourteous to refuse to grant them an interview; and he bade the foot- man conduct them up to the drawing-room. The three Germans accordingly made their appearance —aund a very shabby one it was. The young Duke of Marchmont could not help thinking that if they were really still attached to the household of the reigning Sovereign of Maxe.Stolburg-Quothe, the fortunes of that high and mighty potentate must have experienced considerable dilapidation. But he had not many inatanta for any deliberate reflec- tion at all,—inasmuch as the Chevalier Gumbinnen darted forward and seised Christian io an eumbraes, with which, considering the mingled Gavour of onions, cubas, and perspiration, he could havé very well dispensed, “Mine vare goot friend!” exclaimed the Che- walier; “you sali be for breaking mine heart with vare great joy for again to see vou !” ‘““Regar! hie Grace sall haw much improved ! Him quite de great nobleman !”—and now it was the Chevalier Kadger who took his turn in bestow- ing an affectionate embrace. “ Mine noble friends! mihe vare goot friends !” cried Frumphenhausen, preparing to inflict .the same token of warm feeling towards the young Duke: but he was disappointed—for Obristian, finding these compliments to be intolerable, hastily stepped behind the table; and pointing to chairs, requested his three visitors to be seated. he Chevalier Gumbinuen—who at the time of their former acquaintance gud scarcely speak a word of Engtish, but who had since picked up a crude smattering thereof—continued to act as spokesroan.. e Me explained how delighted himself aud his companiuns were when on arriving A: England a few days back, they acadentally learnt that the furmer secretary to their illustrious master wasnow Duke of Marchmont. The Cheva- lier went on to any that the reigning Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha was coming in the course of the week to pass come little time in the Britifa metropolis; and that his Royal Highupss had therefore sent over th se three officers of haa house- hold té have everything {m readiness at Mivart’s Hotel by the time of his arrival. Hence their presence in London; and as a matter of course (according to the Chevalier Gumbinnen’s account) they could not possibly avoid the pleasure of pay- ing their respects to the Duke of Marchmont. Christian listened with a cold reserve: for he knew vory well that Gumbinneg, though iu Eng- land a Chevalier and a Lord Chamberlain, was when in Germany nothing but a valet—that the Chevalier Kedger, in Hugland an equerry, was io Geymany & footman—and that Frumpenbausen, a Ouutit and a Guild Stick when on his travels, was hy: his own native land a lacqhey with a brass- baded cane. The young Duke of Merchmont murvover knew that these beggarly fellows were capable of any meanness in order to obtain muney or refreshments; and that although they could not help their miserable poverty yet thet they had no right to assume the titles and the eonse- quence which theg affected on the British soil. He was resolved therefore not to offer them eo much even as a glade of wine, nor to give them any en- couragement to renew their visib, “You vare nice house here, milor,” said the Chevalier Gumbianen, looking around the room. “You sali be remembering de bottles of wine we was used to drink togeder when wo was such vare goot friends. Ab, mine goot lord! dat was at de hotel: but ngw you sall be having de wine in your own cellar; and all you sall have to do is just for to ring de bell, and uf comes tho champagne. It vare hot to-day—and me vare tirsty.” “ Begar! i¢ eall be vare hot,” said the Chera- lier Kadger; “ang dat—how you call it Pde lonch which we sail have eaten wae vare salt. We sall be vare dry! Yes—-himmel! me be tirety as de dayvil.” Not chogsing to take any of these hints, Chris- tian said,‘ I eaw your friend Baron Raggidbak dbme time ago, in a condition —~” “ Ah! dat Raggidbak vare great raskal |" ejacu- late? Gumbinnen: “him great soamp—bim big tief—him vare bad man indeed !” * Him dam bad!’ added the Chevalier Kadger emphatically. . “Him make way wid do eplendid harness of his Royal Hiyhnese!” cried Frumpenhauses. “1 believe,” said Obristian, very quiotly ad- dressing himeeclf to the Count, “that you had eome little unpleasant adventure at Buokingham Palace on the night of the supper P—or at least such was the rumour on the occasion.” Tt all lies!” exclaimed Frumpenhausen, colour- ing tremendously. “ De peoples sall be vare soan- dalous at times about us great folks. De [Inglis newspapers vare wicked! dey tell de great lies! If dey was in our Faderland, dey go to gaol, and de journals dey sall be—what you call ‘4?—~—sup- pressed! Me tell your lordship one great, great seoret,” continued Frumpenhagsen, assuming «a moat confidential sir, “ His Royal Highness our Grand T)uke he sall be coming over to dis country. for to make de representations—~you underete milor ?—to his vare goot brudder de Prince Albert, dat de Inglis prese tuo free; and you sall be for seeing dut de Prince Albert use hie influence wid de fJubsrnment to put down your free press,” “Never!” exclaimed Christian warmly. “Ié the reigning Duke of Maxo-Stolburg-Quotha en- tertains sach an idea, he never was more mistaken fn bis life. As for me, 1am without prejudices: but since you have assumed an air of confidence, 1 must tell you very plainly that judging froma what T caw of your master when I was in ‘his services, the less frequently be visits the British realm, the gore agreeable ought it to be to the British people.” “Vare goot! vare goot!” exclaimed the Ohe- valier Gumbinnen. “ De oftener be call come to England, de more agreeable to de British peoples | Dat is exeetidat! But salt E ving de bell, milor, for dat wine you was s0 kiad for to offer us, as we are so tirety P”’ “f must tell you very frankly,” answered the Duke of Marehmont, rising from his seat, “ thas I have no longer any time to bestow upon you.” “Vare goot!” exclaimed the Chevalier Gum é ae seen ene THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. GON GOO G SS (CO)