The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

4 = THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. condescending communicativeness, at the same time grinning like an antiquated goat: “but as for eloquence, I don’t say I flatter myself—I only re- peat what the public press says—when I add that his Grace cannot hold a candle tome. ‘You shal] come sorhe evening to the House when [ am going to make one of my grand displays of three or four hours. You will be astonished at the effect! Some of the noble Lords rush out from the House the moment I rise, and never come back till I have done: they can’t stand the excitement of such thrilling uratory. Others will listen all the time with their eyes shut, so that they may concentrate their attention inwardly, and not lose a single word of what falls from my lips. Iam not vain, Mr. Ashton—though vanity is, after all, the foible of young men fike you and me: but I may say that those are the effects of 4 very peculiar power of oratory.” “Douabtiem, my lord,” answered Christian: and perhaps his response was susceptible of a double in i terpretation. | “Ah! this testimonial is from his Roynl High- sees the Duke of Masxe-Steiburg-Quotha. I knew his father well. IE had a grand battle with him once" ° “In the war-time, my lord P* asked Christian, fancying that he ought to say something. * No—at the dinner-table,” responded the Earl. ‘The Daké prided himself upon being a very great eater, and was honoured sccordingly in his own capital and by all the German fovercigns. ‘Well, duriag my travels, I arrived in the city of Quotha; and hearing of the Duke's fame, was determined to put it to the test. YF must tell you that his Serene for the German Princes were oaly Serene in those days, and not Royal——His Serene Highness, as I was saying, was fond of of that svrt ; and prided himself on hav- ing eaten three Englishmen into an apoplexy and four Scotchmen mto an indigestion which turned to chronie dyspepsia; 90 that when I respectfully provoked him te a contest, he made sure of achiev- ing an additional triumph. XY Said his Serene Highness Eve theuseand guiveas against the Order of the Cormorant, instituted by his Serene High- ness himself, Well, we sat down td table, sur- sounded by the whulé Court: His Serene Hiph- ness led the way with a dish of soar krout: but I declared that I sould not do things in such a ped- ing, trifing manner; and I requested to have a barrel brought in. You would scarcely believe if, Mr. Ashton—but I had into the middle of the barrel before his Serene Highness had got half way through bis dish. Then he took the roast meat and poaltrys but there I beat him by half a fowl and a pigeon. He maisted upon tackling a dish of hand eggs, thinking that they would stick in my throat: and se they did too, with a vengeance ! ~bat I nevarthéless beat him by a yelk. He was. i for au wooks afterwards; and I was the hero of the entire Court durimg my residence there” Christian Ashton could ned help thinking that his lordekip had become a here on very siagular terms; and the Karl proceeded to read the stcond tionable,” he said, “and ; = Well, theese are I think you will do.” Christian ventured te inquire what the nature 219 of his duties would be; and the nobleman went on to explain them. “The fact is, I have travelled a great deal—I have seen many strange things—I have been in- volved in some extraordinary adventures. I think of publishing my memoirs. I have already made many notes and memoranda; and there will be little trouble in arranging them properly. When I take a thing in hand, I am terribly energetic in carrying it out. My mind is bent upon this; and we shall work furiously. You must come and live in the neighbourhood, so that you may be always at hand when I want you: and as for salary, you may name own terms.” ristian scarcely thought that the situation would suit him, inasmuch as he had already seon enough of his lordship to form the very meanest idea of his general character. But while he was refiecting—and the Earl was rattling away with some néw anecdote, comprising a tissue of false- hoods—the youth, happening to glance from the window (the library being on the ground floor) perceived two ladies strolling with a gentleman in the grounds. He could net see their faces: but the figure of one of those ladies produced an immediate impression upon our young hero,— filling his heart with mingled hope, astonishment, and suspense. His conntenance did not however betray any of these emotions; and the Kari, hap- pening at the same time to glance through the window, éxclaimed, “ That lady on the right is the Countess of Lascelles. She is # wife every way worthy of such a husband—young and beautiful, elegant and accomplished. And that is my son, Lord Osmond. Ab! I see you start with sur- prise—and well you may. Yoa naturally wonder that I can have a son of his ageP But between you and me, I was wonderfully precocious, and was a ‘father at seventeen. That other young lady is my niece, Miss Vincent.” The reader cannot be at a loss to conjecture why Obristian had started. It was not because he was in the least astonished at the vain and frivolous Earl Baving a son of such an age, acoing that he had rightly guessed bis lordship’s own years to have reached sixty, so that be might very well have ason of twenty-three: but it was that at the rtoment the trio turned round at the end of the gravel walk—and Christian not only recogniasd in Lord Osmond the tall handsome young man through whom he had already experienced some Kittle degree of mental trouble, bat the sight of Fsabelia’s lovely countenance had sent a thrill of joy through his heart. He now to longer hesi- tated to accept the proffered situation. He paused not to reflect whether he should be allowed to retain i¢ when it came to be discovered that he was acquainted with Miss Vincent: the bare thought of obtaming a post which might bring him for hours together within the same walls which she evidently inhabited, was alone sufficient — to make him hasten to conclude the bargain. The matter of salary was soon settled; and it was understood that he was to remove into the neigh- bourheod that very day, in order to be at hand to commence his duties on the ensaing one. *I mean to treat you quite in a friendly and confidential manner,” proceeded the Earl; “and therefore come with me and I will introduce you te the ladies and my son.” ‘ (GO) an (C DOO Col