The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

THE REVIEW 125 continued the earl, ‘‘ they say that his Grace and myself are the two stars of the House, —in respect to personal appearance, I mean.” Again Christian felt astonished, as well indeed he might, for the Duke of Marchmont was a tall, well-made personage, and he had once been handsome enough until dissipation and evil passions had begun to mar his good looks; whereas the Earl of Lascelles had never the slightest pretensions to any such good looks at all, and was now a living counterfeit, an animate artificiality, a peripatetic cheat, a breathing lie, made up of padded garments, false hair and false teeth, and even a false complexion. ‘Yes, we are called the stars of the House,’ continued his lordship, with an air of bland and condescending com- municativeness, at the same time grinning like an antiquated goat; “‘ but as for eloquence, I don’t say I flatter myself — I only repeat what the public press says — when I add that his Grace cannot hold a candle to me. You shall come some evening to the House when I am going to make one of my erand displays of three or four hours. You will be astonished at the effect. Some of the noble lords rush out from the House the moment I rise, and never come back till I have done; they can’t stand the excitement of such thrilling oratory. Others will listen all the time with their eyes shut, so that they may concentrate their attention inwardly, and not lose a single word of what falls from my lips. IJ am not vain, Mr. Ashton, — though vanity is, after all, the foible of young men like you and me; but I may say that those are the effects of a very peculiar power of oratory.” ‘““ Doubtless, my lord,’’ answered Christian, and perhaps his response was susceptible of a double interpretation. “Ah! this testimonial is from his Royal Highness the Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha. I knew his father well. I had a grand battle with him once.”’ “In the war-time, my lord?” asked Christian, fancying that he ought to say something. “No, at the dinner-table,’’ responded the earl. ‘‘ The duke prided himself upon being a very great eater, and was honoured accordingly in his own capital and by all the German sovereigns. Well, during my travels, I arrived in the city of Quotha, and hearing of the duke’s fame, was determined to put it to the test. I must tell you that his CORNICE OOOkKS (SO)