The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIZS OF THE COURT. at the card. “I sent for him yesterday. Let him come in.’ The footman withdrew; and Christian, think- ing that the business might be private, rose from his seat and was about to retire also—but the Duke made a motion for him to remain, observing, ‘‘ There is no necessity for you to leave. On the contrary, I wish you to pay attention to what is about to take place—so that immediately after Mr. Hyde has departed, you may make notes of our He is a slippery kind of fellow, and I must nail him to his pledges—or else never again shall be represent a pocket-borough of } | 116 “Ah, Mr. Hyde,” said the Duke, as he " “Ah, Mr. Hyde,” said the Duke, as he glanced | to what wo may have to say: for, as you perosive | | | ! | conversation. mine.” Then, after a brief pause, the Duke ob- served for the information of his secretary, “ This Mr. Hyde, you must know, is a Member of Par- liament.” The door opened; and the footman announced the visitor in a loud voice. Mr. Fenwick Finni- kin Hyde, M.P. for ¢he borough of Viviandale, was a gentleman about forty—of middle height and spare figure—affected in his looks and speech —smirking ‘and obsequious in his manners. He was exquisitely dressed, in a blue surtout coat, a figured silk waistcoat, black pantaloons, and patent leather boots. His cravat was tied in a most un- exceptionable manner; a massive geld chain fes- tooned over his waistcoat ; and his kid gloves fitted so tightly that he had some difficulty in drawing off the one from the right hand, as with divers bowings and scrapings he extended that same right hand in the evident expectation that 1t would be taken by the Duke, towards whom he advanced with a sort of skipping, mincing gait. He was by no means good-looking, nutwithstanding all the pains lavished upon his toilet, the wavy curls of « bis long dark hair, and the artificial gloss of his } whiskers. He was every inch the time-server and the parasite,—feeling himself to be dependent upon tho breath of the great man to whose pre- sence he was thus summoned, yet endeavouring to carry off the consciousness of his servile condition by a jaunty air of smirking familiarity, which would doubtless impress an inexperienced stranger with the idea that he felt himself to be on a toler- ably friendly if not altogether equal footing with his Grace. But the Duke of Marchmont, bowing distantly, affected not to perceive Fenwick Minnikin Hyde’s outstretched hand; and coldly motioned to a seat, —which that gentleman, endeavouring to look surprised at this reception, at once took. Then, as be held his well-brushed glossy hat upgn his knees, he said in a weak affected voice, “Glad to see your Grace looking so well. Never saw your Grace looking better. Quite astonishing—’pon my honour!” The Duke simply Enclined his head in ackiiow- ledgement of these compliments; and then ob- servéd in a cold severe vuice, “I requested you to call upon me, Mr. H yde, that you may give gomo little explanations “ Quite right, my lord! Always glad to wait upon your Grace to explain what is going forw in the political world, Byt——-” and “he glaficed towards Christian, “This young gentleman is my private seore- tary,” said the Duke; “and we may speak in his presence, Indeed, be will vot pay any attention ‘compitted a fault, and being summoned intu the to what we may have to say: for, as you perceive he is busy in answering letters.” “ Oh, very good, my lord!’ exclaimed Mr. Fen- wick Finnikin Hyde, bestowing a patronising smile upon Christian. “Of course, if your Grace has no objection to the young gentleman being present, I can have none. Seen this morning’s papers, my lord? Astonishing -how they are turming against the Ministry—astonishing, ’pon my honour!” “ And I could wish, Mr. Hyde,” said the Duke, with a voice and look of severe meaning, “that certain gentlemen belonging to the House of Commons would be equally firm in their opposition to that same moet despicable Cabinet. I think, Mr. Hyde, that you addressed your constituents at Viviandale a few days back ?” “ Quite right, my lord,” exclaimed the honvur- able gentleman “‘ Public dinner given tu me by the free and independent electors — exceedingly sorry that your Grace was not in the chair. As- tonishing enthusiasm nevertheless,—astonishinz, ‘pon my honour!’’—and Mr. Fenwick Finnikin Hyde caressed his whiskers with an assumed look of cuunplaisance; though a very closc ubserver might have seen that he was sitting somewhat uneasily on lis coair, like a school-boy who has presence of his master, is dreading the moment when he will be caarged therewith. “Yes, Mr. Hyde,” resumed Marchmont, still speaking severely, ‘“‘ you did attend a public dinner at Viviandale—a dinner, sir, at which there were one hundred and thirty-three electors present — being the Tory majority of the two hundred and nine freemen of the borough. And that Tory majority as a matter of course looks to meas the lord and master of their opinicns, their consciences, and their souls. There is no mistake about the matter, Mr. Hyde: the borough is mine —and no gentleman can continue to represent it if once he forfeits my confidence.” “Quite right, my lord—certainly not !” ejaculated the Member for Viviandale: and then he smiled with a forced complacency, as if he meant it to be inferred that he had not by any means forfeited his ducal patron’s confidence. “If you consider that I am right, Mr. Hyde,” proceeded Marchmont, “you will not be astonished if I frankly intimate that unless your conduct un- dergoes a change, you will at the next general election cease to be the representative of Vivian- dale. There were passages in your speech, sir, which unmistakably indicated a tendency towards what is generally known as ratting——”’ “ Astonishing, quite astonishing, ’pon my honour !” cried the honourable gentleman, holding up his hands in amazement. “Really, my lord, f your Grace had only heard the cheers which my speech . elicited —— “I care nothing for the cheers, sir,” interrupted Marchmont haughtily. “There may perhaps be some few of my tenant-farmers as well as of the tradesmen of Viviandale, who are inftcted with revolutionary notions, and who in their hearts rebel against my authority. They may therefore cheer, sir, what are oalled liberal sentiments— although they dare not fly in my face and give their votes in the same sense. But I tell you that I caro nothing for the cheers so long as the votes are alwaye of the right sert. Your speech, Mr, = (SOL (C DOO Col