The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 201: what you’re looking at

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192 “Ob, yes, sir! he is a Duke fast enough: but such a Duke!” exclaimed the waiter contemptu- ously. “Iam sure my master would like to be well quit of him and all his beggarly crew of hungry Germans, with their hard names, their airs, their meanness, and their insolence. Perhaps you saw, sir, that I hesitated to bring up the wine when that fellow Raggidbak ordered it? The fact is the Duke has given positive instructions that nothing is to be supplied except by command of Count Wronki, the Lord Steward.” « But this is most extraordinary!” cried young Ashton, lost in bewilderment. Oh, extraordinary indeed {” echoed the waiter. «TY never saw such a wretched set of paupers in my life. They don’t ssem to have a farthing amongst them—I mean the Duke’s retinue; and between you and me, sir, I don’t think the Duke himself is over troubled with cash. Of course you know that whenever he visite this country, all his paid by the English government. These rooms too which they ocoupy, are paid from a certain quarter.” “From whence f”” inquired Christian. “Why, from Buckingham Palace, to be sure,” the waiter. “Ah! the people generally little think what a mean beggarly horde these German fellows are, with all their titles of Duke, Count, Baron, and Chevalier. I tell you what, sir—there isn’t as much linen amongst them all as any ordinary English gentleman possesses; and such linen as it is !—why, the washerwoman is afraid it will fall to pieces in the rubbing and wringing out. And then their clothes too!” added the waiter, shrugging his shoulders with the supremest contempt. “Bat what I wanted to guard you against, sir, is thie—that if you let those fellows got hold of you, they will spunge upon you—they will make you pay for wines, spirits, and cigars— they will pluck you like any pigeon. So pray take care; and don’t say that I dropped you this hint, as it would only get mo into trouble.” Christian thanked him for his well-meant information—and took his departure, w ing still more at the ondering various details he had just received in respect to the German Duke and his retainers. Having paid a hasty visit to Christina, Christian returned to his i at the i k’s house, and he sought in one of the books which he some information relative to the Duchy of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha. He found that it was of the meanest territorial extent—with a tion of a few thousands of souls—with a beggarly revertue—and with an army enumerated only by hundreds. He had previously no very exalted idea of the German Principalities: but he had not suspected that any one of them was so poor and paltry as this. However, he t t to himself that his own salary would be tolerably safe, and that it would at least enhance his interest to be enabled at the close of his engagement to obtain a testimonial from a reigning Duke. — eee arenes Se e tenn cena we “See oe eed a ao ——_— ° reassured the man upon the point—| i HW MYSTRRIBE OF THE COURT. oer RT OE ET EO RS, Cais —_ CHAPTER XXXVI. 4 PLOT. Wz must now once more direct the reader’s at- tention to the interior of Madame Angelique’s establishment; and if we peep into the splendidly furnished apartment whence there was the mirror- next door, we shall find Lettice with the German Mr. Redcliffe’s advico— had returned to that abode of splendid infamy. It was noon, on the day following that on which Christian called at Mivart’s Hotel; and thus Lettice had been back exastly one week. 1 4 aFEF Fs Thus stood matters in respect to Madame gelique and her establishment after the transactiom at Oaklands ;—and now, having given these neces- sary explanations, we return to the luxuriously furnished apartment in which we find Lettice Rod- ney, Armantine, and Linda seated. COMMUC DOO CS (COL