The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 361: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

348 THE MYSTBRIES OF THE COURT. pursuers were quickly recruited by other idle urobins in the thoroughfares through which the strange procession passed; and the quicker went the maddened Germans, the quicker likewise be- came the pace of the crowd that was hooting, yell- ing, shouting, and laughing at their heels. In the meanwhile a certain high functionary connected with the British Court—but whose name and precise office it suite our purpose to suppress ~—-was paying a private visit upon particular busi- ness to the Grand Duke of Maxe‘Stolburg-Quotha at Mivart’s Hotel. His Royal Highness, the illus- trious reigaoing Prince, was clad in a very shabby uniform: but this might be acoounted for by the fact that his three trunks, full of magnificent clothing, had gone down to the bottom of the sea: ——at least so the Obevalier Gumbinnén had said ; and who would venture to doubt the word of such au eminent personage? His Royal Highness was seated at a tabie with hie hands—and we fear no- thing else—in his pockets: while the high func- tionary of the British Court was seated neat the Duke, with a paper containing several memoranda before him. <A portion of the conversation that was taking place, may not be uninteresting to our readers. ‘ “J am sure your Royal Highriess will excuse me,” said the Court official, wifh the most urbane deference of look, tone, and manner: “I am bat conveying the sentiments of your august brotber ” “I know it, my lord, 1 know it,” interjected the Grand Duke, who, as the reader will recollect, spoke English tolerably well. “ But my brother . the Prince must recollect that he is in a very flourishing condition. What would he have been but for his marriage——” “True, your Royal Highness,” said the Court official. “But here”’—referring to the paper b- fore him“ we have about eix thousand pounds transmitted to your Royal Highness in the course of only eight gr nine months. The first thou- sand————" ° ‘ “I Rave already explained to your lordship,” an- awered the Grand Duke, “that it was expended in putting a slate roof upon my palace instead of the yretohed old thatch that for years had keen rotting there.” ec, “But this second thousand P” said the Court official inquiriugly. “Why, you know, my lord,” respondéd the Grand Dake, “that this sum went for a very deli- cate pufpose—the redemption of my plate—you know what I mean. It I[ might indulge in a pleasantry, I think it is what you English would oe ite release from the guardianship of an u Pie The reigning Grand Duke indulged in a loud “Ha! ba! ba!” And eo the Court official—a parasite even to a pauper, so log as this pauper was @ Royal one—considered himeelf compelled to echo it distantly with a tittering “ He! he! he!” “Well, your Royal Highness,” be said, “ we will not go into any farther details relative to past money: : but your august brother the Prinob. through me to suggest that your Royal. ees raight gurround yourself with a. better class of followers———” “ Indeed (* interrupted the Grand Duke Wadghtily: “I should advise my august brother to "1, ¢. 3 ' uy , ee Queene. oct 5 keep such counsel to himself. When he was in Germany, before, he contracted his he was intimate with Gumbinnen — smoked with Kadger—drank beer with Frumpenbausen— and delighted in a dish of sour-crout with Wronki. They are all very good fellows in their way—well- conducted and respectable. They have just gone to a grand entertainment at the young Duke of Marchmont’s.—But, Ah! what fi this noise P”’ “Some street Gisturbance, no doubt,” said the Court official, The Grand Duke and his visitor hastened to the window; and heavens,’ what a spectacle met their view! There were thoep good fellows—fthose re- spectable and well-conducted men—rushing like escaped lunatics along the streets, the garments of the two Chevaliers displaying most unseemly rents, and Frumpénhausen’s ragged kerchief trail- ing like a tail béhind him. And then came about two hundred urchins and ragamuffins of every description,—yelling, shouting, hooting, and giving vent to their exuberant mirth in terms byt little complimentary to the high functionaries belonging to the Court of the reigning Duke of Maxe-Stol- burg-Quotha. His Royal Highness was aghast! his lordly visitor was horrified. Into the hotel rushed the three Germans; while lealf-a-doszen policemen, armed with their bludgeons, glarted in amongst the crowd with the intention of dispersing it. This was at length done; and then the Court official, looking significantly at the reigning Dake, said, ‘“ Now, your Royal Highness must really pardon me for observing that your followers disgrace you.” “TI will have justice, my lord!” exclaimed the Grand Duke, terrifically irate. “ I insist that all the persons concerned in this scandalous treatment of my followers, be ordered to leave London within twenty-four hours, and England within three days, on pain of being shut up in the Tower for the rost of their lives.” “Your Royal Highness forgets,” answered the Oourt official, “ that this is not Germany.” “Then the sooner it is made like Germany the better !” exclaimed the infuriate Duke. ‘ [am sure my brother is trying hard enough-——” ‘No doubt, your Royal Highness,” rejoined the official ; “ and we are certainly making progress in that desirable direction. But atill things cannot be donetin this country on a sudden. We have a Constitution ai ; . ‘ And what the devil do you want with a Con- stitution ? exclaimed the Grand Dake. “Do as we do in Germany: keep a Constitution as a sop to throw to the people when irritated—and then take it away again when the public mind has calmed down.” : “The plan is certainly a good one, your Royal Highness,” answered the lordly sycophant ; “ but unfortunately, in this country, we have a Parlia- ment—we have laws-———”’ “Teash! rubbish!” ejaculated the Grand Duke, with a disgust that certainly was most unfeigned. “ Get rid of them: do as we do in Germany ! ride rough-shod over them! Ah! it is fortunate for you English people that I condescend to visit your shores now and then: for if it were for the advice I give to my deat brothér, Lam sure I do-n0t know what would become of you ail! And yet he grumbles because I require a little money f’’ SS (CO) LOAO©