The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

ee eS elie | oy "ee? Goer | . fhese, who motioted bim to draw still nearer—and | then began toconverse with him in tolerably goud . , '. ' | Kadger, Rquerry to the same illustrious persone e \ ee eee es Oe ge ot oe, 4 | | | weekly. SEs iOS ES TS ar Es sani THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. > sovereign, nnd had a strangé-looking retinue. Bat there was certainly one thing in his favour—that he evidently strove not to throw bis adherents into the shade by any super-excellence on the score of his own outfit. The Chevalier Kadger beckoned Obriatian to ad- vance; and the Chevalier Guisbinnes, acting the part of Lord Chamberlain and Master af the Cere- thovies, presented the youth to ‘the high and roighty Duke ef Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha: but though the Cherglier spoke in ‘German, it was nevertheless a sort of satisfaction to car haro'd mind to discover that he had the faculty of speech at all. The youth bowed low to his Royal High- English. “It is my purpose to remain about a ssonth in _ this country,” asid the Dike; “for which period I | require the services of a young gentleman to write letters in Eoglish for me to those noble and ilius- trious personagés with whom I may have to corre- epond. Doce sush « position suit your! Christian answered in the affirmative; and the Duke continued speaking. , “T shall require yoar attendance every morning at ten v'clock ; and you may consider the hours of occupation to be uatil five: because, in addition to the management of my English correspondepee, you will have to make notes of certain statistical details which I am anxious to obtain, and the sources of which will be duly furnished to ou. Have you testimonials P” Christian produced the one which he had ob- tained from the Duke of Marchmont; and this of course proved eminently satisfactory. His Roval Highness inquired the amount of salary which Christian expected? This littl matter was soon arranged; and he was informed that Baron Far. thenleas, the Privy Purse, would settle with bim The audience now teruinated; and Christian was conducted from the august presence by the Chevalier Kadger, the odour cmanating from whose breath and garments had not appeared to affect the olfactory nerves of his ducal master in the slightest degree, although it was particularly strong, and in its combinations none of the most frogrant. But then, Christian thought to himself, the Duke had perhaps grown accustomed to inhale the atmosphere which his Equerry eatried about with him; and the old adage saya that “use is second nature.” On gaining the ante-chamber, where Baron Ragyidbuk was again found seated in the arm- chair near the fire, the Chevalier Kadger laid bis hand upon Chnistian’s shoulder; and eaid, “Me and de Baron sall drink your one goot bealth in one bottle O& wine-or two bottle, begar !—aud you sall stop some minutes for de saine.” “Vare goot!” exclaimed Baron Raggidbak, earessing his beard with one hand while be gave “the bell-pull a violent tug with the other. Christian could not of course help tarrying in Compliance with the wishes of hia arstucratic friends: he agcordingly sat down; and in a few moments the waiter made his appearance. *Mine goot mans,” Said Baron Ruaggidbak, “you sail go for to bring up two bottles of de port and de sherry wines for de present gumpany.” “A bottle of each, my lord P’ said the waiter, bad heard aright, Ee ee = (i, eee awh @ Wer vader — = 3 301 a + array ERE SRR ONIURNTNTS putting his hand up to his head with @ half hesitating, half-refleetive air. «Dat ig it,” responded the Baron: bat aq ¢he waiter etil appeared undesided, and hung abut the deor as if wanting to aay something but act exnotly liking tq do so, the Groom of the Stoly placed bis hand on Christian's shoulder, saying, with a certain emphasls, “Dis sall be de yong Yaans what eall pay fer de treat for de prosout gunpeny.” The waiter now suddenly became more cheerfyl in: aspect, and quitted the ruom with a blithe alacrity. Obriatian could scarcely believe that he What! his lordship, Baron Ragyidbak, Groom of the Stole to a reigning Dube and the scarcely leas divtinguiahed Chevalier age ~ oundescending to drink at bis expense |— and what was more, inviting themselves to do it! For the moment Christian felt aa if he were in the midat of a dream: or else--whet really did seem more prubable-—that he was in the midet of hungry adventurers. But bho said not a word; and in a few moments the waiter re-appeared with a decanter of port and another of shorry on a tray, which likewise bore the bill duly mada out and receipted,—the wine being charged six abillings a bottle, © “Now, my goot friend,” said Baron Raggidbak, out wid de monies. Dis am de German fashion of making-———what you sall, call it P—-—-Oh! de acquaintance.” Christian produced a sovereign ; and on recci¢. ing the change from the waiter, be left half-a- crown lying on tho tray for that individual's own feo—a liberality which procured for him @ very low bow. The Chevalier Kadgur procoeded to fill the glasses—which himaelf and Baron Ragyidbak showed themaelvea very good hangide at emptying also, Chriatian drank but little; ‘and his abste. miousness was highly complimented by his two aristucratio friends, who had good reason to be re- joiced at it, inasmuch as there was all the more for themeaives. The two decanters were omptied In an inconceivably short space of timc; and Baron Raggidbak dropped a hint rélative to a socotia sapply: but Christian was anxious tg run up tq the Regent's Park and tell bis sister that he had obtained another situation —a0 that he rose to take his departure, wondering infinitely not merely at the conduct of the Groom of the Stole and the Equerry-in waiting, but also at the entira ap- pearance of the Duke and his retinue. ; Ae he was about to issue from the hotal, he was encountered by the same waiter who bad broughe ap the wine, and who wae now crossing the hall at the moment. The man paused, and looked at Christian as if ho wished to speak to him; and as our young bero himself was anxious to hear gome- thing mure relative to the personages amongst whow accident bad thrown him, he paused likewise. The waiter thereupon said, “Just step into this room, sir.” Christian followed thé man, who carefully closed the dour; and then said, “1 beg your pardon, siz, but a» 1 rece that you are aliberal young gentleman, I don’t like .yuu to stand the chance of being robbed.” “ Robbed” ejaculated our hero. not that really a Duke ?” “Why—is NOG EE EO Oe A ep tianene deeepingeena gamete Ree es wage ie a ee AP at Ap tom gs s piven SS