The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

LAST SCENE WITH THE GERMANS _ 253 duty it was to stand in front of the show and carry on a pleasant discourse with Mr. Punch was so incensed at this wanton destruction of property that he seized upon the cudgel with which Punch was wont to inflict personal chastisement upon Judy, and he aimed a terrific blow at the sconce of Baron Raggidbak. But this illustrious personage, who now seemed inspired with a new life of some kind or another, dexterously warded off the blow, seized upon the staff, and therewith struck the Punch and Judy man to the ground, thus in a moment avenging many an insult, cuff, gibe, and practical joke which he had previously sub- mitted to with a sullen and morose resignation. Then tossing away the mouth-organ, slipping the drum off his neck, and giving it a terrific kick which smashed in the hitherto unin- jured side, he darted away as fast as his legs could carry him. All this was the work of a very few moments, and the crowd, hugely delighted at the whole scene, cheered most lustily. | “Now,” said Christian, abruptly closing the window, and addressing himself in a peremptory manner to his three German visitors, “‘ I order you to retire; and I have further to inform you that if you again present yourselves at my residence, you will find the doors closed against you.”’ ‘“‘ Begar! ”’ exclaimed the Chevalier Kadger, gesticulating violently, so that forgetting any longer to hold his arm tight to his side, he displayed the rent which he had hitherto so studiously concealed; ‘“‘ dis vare great insult sall be for to have satisfaction. Dis sall be mine friend,’’ and he pointed to the Chevalier Gumbinnen. ‘“ Me fight mit de broadsword, and me pink you troo and troo — himmel! ”’ “Vare goot!’’ ejaculated Count Frumpenhausen, dis- playing his tattered kerchief, he being seized with a violent sneezing fit at the moment, “‘ Dis sall be one duel, or you, my lord, sall be for making de apology, which, begar! sall be for de best; and you sall be for ordering de bottles of wine, de port and sherries, so we sall all make it up and be vare goot friends. It not de first time, my lord, you find us vare goot sumpany.”’ The young Duke of Marchmont rang the bell violently, and when a footman answered the summons, he exclaimed, “Show these persons from the house, and tell the hall CORE Oe <S) (S©)