The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

130 REYNOLDS’ WORKS Lascelles was seated in the library, arranging his memoranda in readiness for work on the following day, when the con- fidential valet Makepeace entered the room on some pretence or another. ‘“‘ Well, Makepeace,” said the nobleman, looking up from his papers with a self-satisfied air, “‘I mean to astonish the whole world.” “The world, my lord,’”’ responded the sycophantic valet, “can be astonished at no achievement on your a. part. ? ‘‘ T think there is some truth in that,”’ said the earl, caress- ing his chin as he lounged back in the chair. ‘ Nevertheless, my contemplated book will crown all my other triumphs, and I have engaged a secretary to assist in writing it.” “ That young gentleman, my lord, whom I saw going out just now? ” inquired Makepeace, deferentially. “The same,” rejoined the earl. ‘ I am convinced he is a youth of great ability and lively intelligence, by the way he listened to that anecdote of mine about my German feat. I don’t think I ever told it you — ” For the first time in his life Makepeace did not wait to hear the anecdote, but interrupting his noble master, said, significantly, “‘ I presume your lordship cannot be aware that this is the very young gentleman — ”’ ‘Who lodged at the Rubbs’ or the Dubbs’ or whatever their name is? ”’ exclaimed the earl. ‘‘ In general I have an excellent memory for names, but I have lost sight of that one. Do you know, Makepeace, that when I was travelling in Russia I fell.in with a young Englishman who had dis- located his jaw?” “Indeed, my lord? Was it by a fall from his horse? ”’ “Oh, no. Merely by pronouncing the names of Russian noblemen, some of which would cover a sheet of paper to write them, and are all consonants. But I could pronounce them all with the greatest ease. Indeed, I was always a good hand at hard words. When I was seven years old I had all the classics at my fingers’ ends, and made no diffi- culty of that name which was invented by Plautus — Thesaurochrysonichochrysides.”’ “I have often admired your lordship’s extraordinary memory on such points,” se oe “ But about that young man — ”’ EORMICLOOOKS. CCI