The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

THE SCHOOLMASTER 53 crown, and under it there was the name of the Duke of Maxe- Stolburg-Quotha. The address in the right hand corner was Mivart’s Hotel. Here was grandeur! It was evidently a reigning duke who was sending for Christian, and doubtless the Chevalier Gumbinnen was some high dignitary attached to the person of his Royal Highness. Such was the conclusion to which our hero naturally came. He looked at the chevalier, and the chevalier looked at him. Did the chevalier mean to speak, — or, indeed, could he speak at all? Christian could not help thinking it was rather a strange proceeding to send this silent gentleman on such a business, and he began to feel somewhat awkward. The chevalier, however, conde- scended presently to relieve him from his embarrassment, for, taking out a somewhat cumbrous watch, — which would doubtless have been considered handsome in the time when pinchbecks were in fashion, — he displayed the dial before Christian’s eyes, and pointing to the hour of four, gave a sort of significant grunt, and then stared for half a minute in the youth’s countenance, to assure himself that the intimation was comprehended. Christian bowed; the chevalier made a very slight and condescendingly digni- fied inclination of the head, put on his napless hat, and took his departure. The whole proceeding was singular enough, but Christian understood that he was to call at Mivart’s Hotel to see his Royal Highness, the reigning Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha, at four o’clock: It was now a little past three, and therefore our hero had only just time to dress himself in his best apparel and set off to Brook Street, Grosvenor Square. While pro- ceeding thither, his thoughts were divided between Isabella Vincent and the business on which he was now bent. He of course imagined that the duke required an English secretary; and hence the application to himself, made through that very interesting, intelligent, and enlightening person, the Chevalier Gumbinnen. Christian could have wished to remain a week or two longer at Mrs. Chubb’s ere entering upon another situation, but he had his bread to get, and must not throw away a chance. Besides, it suddenly occurred to him that as the duke was residing at a hotel, and was not likely to remain very long absent from his own dominions, it was perhaps only a temporary occupa- CORNICLOO SS (E) im