The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

THE SUPPER EATER 50 mously voted that he should forthwith put it into execution. The chevalier was about to set forth for the purpose, when he recollected that he should require a cab to take him in haste to Buckingham Palace, and bring him back again to Mivart’s Hotel to communicate the result of his mission. Two shillings at the least would be the required fare, and this amount, after some little delay, was scraped together in halfpence from the pockets of those illustrious German noblemen and gentlemen. But when the Chevalier Kadger had departed, strange misgivings sprang up in the breasts of those whom he had left behind, lest he should merely drop into the nearest public-house, drink and smoke out the large funds confided to him for a special purpose, and then come back to assure them with all the impudence in the world that he had been to the palace, but had failed in the accomplishment of his mission. However, there was now no help for it but to wait, and therefore, by way of a little pastime for the next hour or so, those amiable Germans sustained an incessant quarrel amongst themselves. But the result of the proceeding showed that a nicer sense of honour dwelt in the breast of the Chevalier Kadger than his friends gave him credit for; inasmuch as at the expira- tion of about an hour and a half, he reappeared with a face that was very red and very radiant. The redness arose from a strong glass of brandy and water of which he had partaken in the servants’ hall at Buckingham Palace, and the radiancy was derived from the complete success which had crowned his mission; so that after all, the chevalier’s companions found they had wrongfully suspected their upright com- rade, and that he had not turned into the nearest public- house to drink and smoke out the two shillings accumulated in halfpence. We now return to Buckingham Palace itself. It was verging toward midnight, and the doors of the refreshment rooms had been thrown open for those who thought fit to avail themselves of the viands and the wines, the fruits and the liqueurs, so profusely set out upon the tables. It was, however, deemed too early for a general influx of the company to these rooms, and but few domestics remained there in attendance. The head butler was nevertheless at his post near the sideboard, and instead of lounging there, he stood statue-like with that prim formality which had GOMIGIOOKSAGO