The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 344: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYUTERIES OF THE COURT. honour of being received here to-day, I’m sure it will drive her stark staring med, if anything in this world cas/ I hesitated at first whether to The three worthies at once saw that the porter both eniffed and eyed them saspicioadly: whereat they drew themseives up with the mightievt airs come and pay my respects: but at last I said to of importance—and with their somewhat dirty my new servant, saye I, ‘Jane, Captain Flasher’ — that’s my new lodger—‘Captain Flasher doesn’t dine at home to-day: so you may just give me an early dinner off his cold beef—which won't keep till to-morrow—and then I'll prank myeelf off and and call a¢ Marchmont House.’—Captain ather is a very nice man, and doesn’t think of locking up the tesa-caddy or decanting his own wine, or any meanness of thet sort. Ah, my lord, you remember those odious Johnsons, who had my second floor? ‘Well, they’ve actually gone to live with Mrs. Sifkin; and I'm so gied of it! It’s almost the worst punishment I could wish the womas for all her slander and bad conduct towards myself. They'll punish her with their meanneces, Yl be bound !” In this manner did Mrs. Macaulay rattle on until the young Duke and Lady Christina Vivian began to get tired of ber gossip,—when they gave her luncheon ; and she shortly afterwards took her departure, bearing with her several presents which the twims made ber. On returning to ber own abode, she purposely got up a wrangle with the eabman in to the amount of the fare, in order that she might have an opportunity of re- minding him over and over egain, that she had been to Marchmont House and beck. Her object was thas to im the fact not merely for the immediate behoof of her peighbours, but likewise for that of passcre-by: and when she had said the same thing in a very loud voice a dozen times over, she ended by paying the cabman his full demand, with sixpence extra,—a piece of gene- rosity on her part which must be taken as a proof of the excellent humoar into which her visit had at her. P A couple‘of days after the visit of Mre. Macau- lay, the young Duke of Marchmont was favoured @ith the company of some other old acquaintances. It was about two o'clock when three individuals, of unmistakable foreign ted them- selves at the entrance of the mansion in Belgrave Squere. Their raiment was not remarkable for any of those attractions waich constitute “fashion” in respect to the masculine garb. On the contrary, jt seemed as if the Holywell Street of some Conti- nental city might be referred to as the source whence emanated the garments of those three per- éon Trath compels us to declare that they lpoked as if they were the most devoted disciples of the Genius of Seediness. As for linen, an ex- eceding maliciousness might be inclined to repre- eent that they wore none at all; though s more charitable surmise would only go to the extent that it was too dirty to be displayed. Their coats were buttoned completely up to their throats; and neither inside their stocks of rusty black nor the sleeves of those coats could the slightest glimpee be caught of linen, calico, or long-cloth. At the same time that they presented themeelves at the entranee of Marchmont House, the hall-porter be- came aware of a somewhat strong odotr, com- pounded of onions, tobacco-smoke, and perspira- tion ; and he made a wry face, for his nostrils were unaccustomed to such a scent in the aristocratie region of Belgrave Square, hands began stroking their bearde and playing with their moastaches. Then one of the gentle- men said to the porter, “ We eall be calling for to ask for his Grace, de yong Duke of March. mont.” “ His Grace is * anewered the porter somewhat curtly, although he was naturally a very civil, obliging, and well-behaved man: for other- wise he would not have been retained in ‘Ohnig- tian’s service. “Den we sall be for to wait,” ssid the individual who was acting as spokesman. “You not know us. We vare great men in our own countsey— great men in our Faderjand.” The porter looked as if he thought that it was a great pity they ever came out of their Fatherland: for he was by no means inelined to believe that they could be great personages in England. “You sall be having de honour of knowing berlain of dat high and mighty Prinee de reigning Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quoths. Dis am de Che- valiee Kadger, de Equerry to de same Grand Duke; and dis am de Count Frumpenhausen, de Gold Tick to him Royal Highness de vare same Grand Duke.” The hall porter placed his hand to his forehead with a bewildered air, as all these magnificent titles were as mercilessly and overpoweringly hurled at him: but still there was that exceedingly unaristo- cratic odour ing the atmosphere, and pro- ducing with the anfortunate hall-porter a sensation of sickness. “What do these fellows want ?” asked a powdered laequey, coming forward. “There! be of with you, my good man,” he added, proffering the Che- valier Gumbinnen a few pence. “The police are very strict in respect to beggart and vagrants in this quarter of the town; and if you are taken up you will be sent to the House of Correction.” “Beggars, begar!” cried the Chevalier Gum- binnen, plunging his fingers into his whiskers, grasping them wildly, and tearing at them ae if they were mad. “ De insalt is one for which you sall be sent off vid one flea in yourear! You mans not know us. We vere great men in our country—we vare rich—-we great lorde-—we belong to de Cuurt of de bradder of your Prince Albert.” The footman stared at this announcement for e moment ; but suddenly barsting out into a laugh, he said good-naturedly, “Well, you are three of the rummest fellows for begging impostore that I ever saw |” The Chevalier Gumbinnen gave vent to hie rage in another attack upon his red whiskers: but the Chevalier Kadger stepped forward, presenting & | Very dirty card, and saying, “ You sall take dis to | yoor master, young mane; and you eall acon see ce wonderful effect dis name sall be for pro- another lacquey, who bad just etepped forward, and who spoke these words in an audible tone, “I have heard something of these follows be- fore.” . COMIC DOG ucing “You bad better take up the card, John,” said (CO AU