The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 200: what you’re looking at

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A i aim neta ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 191 sovereign, and had a strange-looking retinue. But there was certainly one thing in his favour—that he evidently strove not to throw his adherents into the shade by any super-excellence on the score of his own outfit. . : The Chevalier Kadger heckoned Christian to ad- vance; and the Chevalier Gumbinnen, acting the part of Lord Chamberlain and Master of the Cere- monies, preaented the youth to the high and mighty Duke of Maze-Stolburg-Quotha: but though the Chevalier spoke in German, i¢ was hevertheless a aprt of satisfaction to our bero’s mind to discover that he had the faculty of speech atall. The youth bowed low to his Royal High- ness, who motioned him to draw still nearpr—and then began to converse with him in tolerably good English. | “It is my purpose to yemain about a month in this country,” said the Duke ; “ for which period I require the services of a young gentleman to write letters in English for me to those noble and illus- trious personages with whom I may have to corre- spond. Does such a position suit you ?” Christian answered in the affirmative; and the Duke continued speaking. “J shall require your attendance every morning at ten o’clock ; and you may consider the hours of occupation to be until five: because, in addition to the management of my English co 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 you. 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 Royal Highness inquired the amount of salary which Christian expected? This little matter was soon arranged; and he was informed that Baron Far- thenless, the Privy Purse, would settle with him weekly. The audience now terminated; and Christian was conducted from the august presence pd the Chevalier Kadger, the odour emanati m whose breath and garments had not appeare 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 fragrant. But then, Christian thought to himeelf, the Duke had perhaps grown accustomed to inhalo the atmosphere which his Equerry carried about with him; and the old adage says that “use is second nature.” On gaining the ante-chamber, where Baron Raggidbak was again found seated in the arm- chair near the fire, the Chevalier Kadger laid his hand upon Christian’s shoulder; and said, “Me and de Baron eall drink your one goot health in ohne bottle of wine—or two bottle, begar !—and you sali stop some minutes for de same.” _“Vare goot!” exclaimed Baron Raggidbak, Careesing his beard with one hand while he gave the bell-pull a violent tug with the other. _ Christian eould not of course help terrying in compliance with the wishes of his aristocratic friends: he accordingly sat down; and in a few moments the waiter made his appearance. “Mine goot mans,” said Baron Raggidbak, “you sall go for to bring up two bottles of de port and de sherry wines for de present gumpany.” “A bottle of each, my lord?” said the waiter, putting his band up to ‘his head with a half- hesitating, half-reflective air. “ Dat is it,” responded the Baron: but as the waiter atill appeared undecided, and hung about the door as if wanting to say something but not exactly liking to do so, the Groom of the Stole placed his hand on Christian’s shoulder, saying, with a eertain emphasis, “ Dis sall be de yong mans what sall pay for de treat for de present gumpany.” The waiter mow suddenly became more cheerful in aspect, and quitted the room with a blithe alacrity, Christian could scarcely believe that he had heard aright. What! his lordship, Baroy Raggidbak, Groom of the Stele to a reigning Duke -—and the scarcely leas distinguished Chevalier Kadger, Equerry to the same illustrious persan- age—condescending to drink at his expense |— and what was more, inviting themaelves to do it! For the moment Christian felt as if he wera in tha midst of a dream: or else—what really did seem more probable—-that he was in the midat of hungry adventurers. But he said not a word ; and in a few moments the waiter re-appeared with a decanter of port and another of sherry on a tray, which likewise bore the bill dyly made out and reoerpted—the wine being charged six shillings a btle. . “Yow, my goot friend,” said Baron Raggidbak, ‘ out wid de monies, Dis am de German fashion of making——-what you sall call it ?———-Oh! de. acquaintance.” Christian produced a sovereign ; and on reeciv- ing the change from the waiter, he left half-a- crown lying on the tray for that individual’s own fee—a liberality which procured for him a very low bow. The Chevalier Kadger proceeded to fill the glasses—which himself and Baron Raggidbak showed themselves very good hands at emptying also. Christian drank but little; and his abete- miousness was highly complimented by his two aristocratic friends, who had good reason to be re- joiced at it, inasmuch as there was all the more for themselves. The two decanters were emptied in an inconcoivably short space of time; and Baron Raggidbak dropped a hint relative to a second supply: but Christian was anxious to run up to the Regent’s Park and tel] his sister that he had obtained another situation—so 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 entire ap- pearance of the Duke and his retinue, As he was about to issue from the hotel, he was encountered by the same waiter who had brought up the wine, and who was now crossing the hall at the moment. The man paused, and looked at Christian as if he wished to speak to him; and as our young hero himself was anxious to hear some- thing more relative to the personages amongst whom accident had thrown him, he paused likewise. The waiter thereupon said, “Just step into this room, sir.” Christian followed the man, who carefully closed the door; and then said, “I beg your pardon, sir, but as I see that you are a liberal young gentleman, I don’t like you to stand the chance of being robbed.” “Robbed P” ejaculated our hero. “ Why—is not that really a Duke ?” (COL (C DOO " CS (COL