Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

306 Tom ANDERSON, DareE-DEVIL years from this hour she was to meet her countryman in Washington, and to see the Irish Catullus and the Presi- dent of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, “lock horns”? and to see, too, the wife of the British Minister “‘toss her head, but without shaking the peace of two na- tions”? — while “the old Princess Oczakoff stirred up a hornets’ nest —” But there, there! What have we to do with the Jefferson Administration? Albeit, Madame la Princesse Oczakoff did distill excitement from certain events of 1804. “That yellow cheek of hers to incarna- dine!” “De la Jonquiére, don’t pull Tiny’s ears; she has a temper like Dick Knatchbull’s. Tune the guitar, there, for the Marquis de Carabas.” “She bestowed that guy title on me as gracefully as if I’d been a nobleman,” ‘Tom declared — elsewhere. “Do you know more new songs?” — fixing her im- perious blue eyes on him. “I am so old that I thirst for everything new — except the new rich.” “Very few. The war is going on, you know, in America; and ve are principally engaged in getting ourselves killed —” “You were a Rebel soldier?”’ “T am a Rebel soldier!” “Un inépuisable! Your age?” “T am not yet eighteen, madame.” “Gracious God!”’ There was a silence, which Tom thought it unbecoming that he should break. “My dear Eugéne, they don’t teach you to tune a guitar at Codrington College, I see. Bring it here. Sing me the songs you like best, Marquis of Carabas.”’ And so he did. Song after song he sang, until, kindled by their enthusiasm, he dropped the guitar, took the floor, and sang, with all the dash and deviltry in him, “Arthur Bradley’s Weddin’.”’ The Princess laughed until she was breathless, bringing her little jeweled hands together, again and again. EONMNICLOOOKSa(6O© ny