The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

THE SUPPER EATER 59 butler away from the unpleasant reflections which had been passing in his mind, until the unfortunate man was destined to receive an almost overpowering shock on beholding the domino make his fifth appearance. ‘Tf he is going to sit down and devour another supper,”’ said the unfortunate and bewildered butler to himself, ‘I shall know that I am a madman, that I am haunted by delusions, and for fear lest I should do anybody a mischief, I will rush off to Bedlam, knock at the door, and insist upon being taken in.”’ Yet though the domino had come back for a fifth repast, the butler did not carry out his threat of self-immolation at the shrine of lunacy. But for some minutes he remained transfixed in blank dismay, like one who was gazing upon an apparition from the dead. He even forgot to place more champagne upon the table, until reminded of his duty by his deputy, who was present. The butler gasped as if about to make some observation, but was unable to give utterance to it, and then he proceeded to draw. another bottle of champagne. But now a thought struck him. “He surely would like a bottle of burgundy,” he said to himself, “ after so much champagne.” And this idea was immediately followed by another. If the butler could but obtain a glimpse of the astounding supper eater’s features, 1t would be a relief to his mind to ascertain that it was really a human face which possessed the organ that took in so huge a quantity of sustenance. The butler accordingly proceeded in person to where the supper eater was seated, and bending down — but not without a certain degree of apprehension, lest he should catch a glimpse of something frightful — he said, “‘ I beg your pardon, sir — my lord — your Grace ’’ — (for he did not of course know which appellation was right)—‘‘but I thought perhaps a little burgundy might now be agreeable.”’ ““Champagne,”’ was the single word which came from the supper eater’s lips. It was sternly pronounced, and at the same moment the butler caught a glimpse of a very fierce moustache through the opening in the domino. Abashed and dismayed, the worthy functionary returned to the sideboard and despatched the champagne to the voracious domino. It was soon disposed of, and the repast devoured upon this occasion was, if anything, more copious EOMINIGIOOKS (CO