The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

THE SUPPER EATER 61 ‘¢ Ridiculous,’”’ ejaculated the prince, and confusion was mingled with sternness in his looks, for he knew not whether to think that the butler had really gone mad, or that he was tipsy and therefore forgetting himself. ‘“T can assure your Royal Highness,”’ said the unfortunate man, ‘“‘ that I am only dealing with facts. The personage alluded to ate and drank all I haveenumerated— And here he is again.” Yes, sure enough, there was the identical domino gliding into the room, but when just about to seat himself at table, he caught sight of Prince Albert, and appearing to stand aghast for a moment, he made for the door. His Royal Highness was instantaneously seized with the conviction that there was something wrong, and hastening forward, he caught the domino by the arm, — not rudely, but with sufficient force to detain him. At that same instant the queen made her appearance on the spacious landing outside, accompanied by the Grand Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha, and attended by several gentlemen and ladies of her house- hold. A piteous groan came from the lips of the domino, and he fell upon his knees. The queen was seized with amazement, and she mechanically took her husband’s arm, as if for protec- tion, for the idea of some contemplated but discovered outrage - flashed through her mind. The hood fell back from the head of the kneeling culprit, and the Grand Duke of Maxe-Stolburg- Quotha exclaimed in astonishment, ‘ It is Count Frumpen- hausen — my gold stick.” Prince Albert at once saw that his illustrious relative’s functionary had some tale to tell which would redound little to the credit of either himself or his ducal master, and he was therefore anxious to avoid anything that savoured of exposure in the presence of the company. Hastily making some excuse, he bade Count Frumpenhausen rise from his knees and follow him to a private apartment, — a request which the discomfited gold stick obeyed with considerable alacrity, for he felt by no means comfortable with so many eyes fixed wonderingly and scrutinizingly upon him. The Grand Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha likewise accompanied the prince, and in a few minutes the three were alone together in another apartment. Then Count Frumpenhausen made a clean breast of it, and revealed everything. It appeared that a German valet who had attended Prince Albert to ECoOnnicloookKks (CO)