The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 287: what you’re looking at

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

258 REYNOLDS’ WORKS disgust that certainly was most unfeigned. “‘ Get rid of them; do as we do in Germany, ride roughshod over them. Ah! it is fortunate for you English people that I condescend to visit your shores now and then, for if it were not for the advice I give to my dear brother, I am sure I do not know what would become of you all. And yet he grumbles b cause I require a little money! ”’ At this moment the door burst open, and a tall, gaunt form strode in, with the spindleshanks clothed in a strange pair of inexpressibles. This was the Baron Raggidbak, and the reigning Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha assumed his haughtiest demeanour on beholding the discharged and disgraced functionary. “TI want my rights!’”’ exclaimed Raggidbak, striking his fist forcibly upon the table up to which he had advanced. “Dey say me get dronk, and me no get dronk. Me only too damn glad to be for seeing anything at Quotha to get dronk upon. Nothing but small beer — damn small beer! Den dey sall say me steal de plate off de harness. De plate not worth de stealing. And why for your Royal Highness not pay my wage regular? De Ponch and Judy showman he pay my wage regular, but de grand duke he never have not one farden. Dat all de difference. I want my rights — ” ‘‘ Begone! ”’ exclaimed the grand duke; “ begone, I say, or you shall be locked up in a fortress for the remainder of your life.’’ ‘Ah! dat all vare goot in faderland,’’ exclaimed Raggidbak, maliciously, ‘‘ but dat no goot in dis contry. Your Royal Highness sall be for making me one excuse — or how you call it? — one apology, and you sall be for taking me back into your service, mit de pledge dat you sall not be for ill- treating me when we get back to faderland.”’ “Now, my good fellow,” said the court official, who had no recollection of Baron Raggidbak, ‘‘ you had better take yourself off, or I shall call a constable and give you into his custody.” Baron Raggidbak began to curse and swear both in English and in German; he rent his hair, he stamped and stormed, and he vowed that he would expose the characters of all the grand duke’s officials, as well as their real position and standing in their native land, unless his Royal Highness should consent to do him justice. All these threats he Gomiuicbdoc <S (E(0)