The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUCAL SECRETARY | 111 that this high official, the principal equerry to the reigning Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha, wore no shirt! He had on a flannel jacket, which had certainly seen a couple of months’ wear without being changed; and it was therefore pretty evident that either the Chevalier Kadger’s wardrobe was singularly deficient, or else that he had entirely lost the con- fidence of his washerwoman. The equerry, turning his back toward Christian, made all possible haste to hook his frogged and braided coat, which, as it fastened close up to the chin, effectually concealed that little trifling deficiency in the linen department which had betrayed itself to our young hero’s knowledge. At this moment the Chevalier Gumbinnen, lord chamberlain and principal lord of the bedchamber, came rushing into the anteroom, where he pulled the bell violently. ‘This exalted official in the service of an illustrious master seemed to be in as towering a rage as Baron Raggidbak was a few minutes before, when surprised in his airy condition and thrifty occupation; indeed, so much was the Chevalier Gumbinnen excited that he did not notice Christian’s presence. The furious summons of the bell was almost instantaneously answered by a waiter, and the chevalier, grasping him by _ the arm, said, ‘‘ De breeshes! ”’ The waiter shook his head in evident inability to com- prehend the chevalier’s meaning. ‘“ De breeshes! ”’ repeated this functionary, in the highest ‘state of excitement; and no wonder, for he had just used all the English that he knew, and was totally unable to express himself by another syllable of our vernacular. The Chevalier Kadger, who had by this time finished buttoning up his coat, came to his’ friend’s assistance. A few words were rapidly exchanged in German, and then the Chevalier Kadger, addressing himself to the waiter, said, “Mine goot mans, de lord chamberlain sall come for to ask for de breeshes of his Royal Highness.”’ Then, as the waiter stared in astonishment, the Chevalier Kadger proceeded to explain, in the best English he could possibly muster to his aid, that the Duke of Maxe-Stolburg- Quotha’s best pantaloons had been sent on the previous day to the tailor to have stripes of gold-lace sewn upon the legs, that the pantaloons aforesaid had not come home, and that his Royal Highness was kept waiting in the cold, in his shirt, CONNIE LOOKS (FO)