The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 359: what you’re looking at

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

348 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. pursuers were quickly recruited by other idle urohios in the thoroughfares through which the atrange procession passed; and the quicker went the maddened Germans, the quicker likewise be- came the pace of the crowd that was hooting, yell- ing, shouting, and laughing at their heels. In the meanwhile a certain high fanctionary connected with the British Court—but whose name and precise office it suits our purpose to suppress —was paying a private visit upon particular busi- ness to the Grand Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha at Mivart’s Hotel. His Royal Highness, the illus- trious reigning Prince, was clad in a very shabby uniform: but this might be accounted for by the fact that his three trunks, full of magnificent clothing, had gone down to the bottom of the ses: -———at least so the Chevalier Gumbinnen had said ; and who would venture to doubt the word of such an eminent personage? His Royal Highness was seated at a tabie with his hande—and we fear no- thing else—in hie pockets: while the high func- tionary of the British Court was seated near the Duke, with a paper containing séveral memoranda before him. A portion of the conversation that was taking place, may not be uninteresting to our readers. “IT am sure your Royal Highness will excuse me,” said the Court official, with the most urbane deference of look, tone, and manner: “I am bat conveying the sentiments of your august brother———”’ “I know it, my lord, I know it,” interjected the Grand Duke, who, as the reader will recollect, epoke English tolerably weil. ‘“ But my brother the Prince must recollect that he is in a very flourishing condition. What would he have been but for his marriage——” “True, your Royal Highness,” said the Court official. ‘“ But here ”’—referring to the paper be- fore him—“ we have about six thousand pounds transmitted to your Royal Highness in the course of only eight or nine months. The first thou- gand Do “‘T have already explained to your lordship,” an- awered the Grand Duke, “ that it was expended in putting a slate roof upon my palace instead of the wretched old thatch that for years had been rotting there.” “But this second thousand P” said the Court official inquiringly. “Why, you know, my lord,” responded the Grand Duke, “ that this sum went for a very deli- cate purpose—the redemption of my plate—you know what [ mean. It I might indulge ia a pleasantry, I think it is what you English would call ite release from the guardianship of an uncle.” The reigning Grand Duke indulged in a loud “Ha! ha! hal” And eo the Court official—a parasite even to s pauper, so long as this pauper was a Royal one—oconsidered himself compelled to echo it distantly with a tittering “He! he! he!” “ Well, your Royal Highness,” he said, “ we will not go into any farther details relative to past money-matters: but your august brother the Prince ventures through me to suggest that your Royal Highness might surround yourself with a better clase of followers—— “Indeed!” interrupted the Grand Duke haughtily: “I should advise my august brother to keep seach counsel to himself. When he was ia Germany, before he contracted his marriage, he was intimate with Gumbinnen —emoked cigars with Kadger—drank beer with Frampenhausen — and delighted in a dish of soar-croat with Wronki. They are al] very good fellows in their way—well- conducted and respectable. They have just gone to a grand entertainment at the young Dake of Marchmont’s.—But, Ah! what is this noise ?” “Some street distarbance, no doubt,” said the Court official. The Grand Duke and his visitor hastened to the window; and heavens! what a spectacle met their view! There were those good fellows—those re- spectable and well-conducted men—rushing like escaped lunatics along the streets, the garments of the two Chevaliers displaying most unseemly rents, and Frumpenhausen’s ragged kerchief trail- ing like a tail behind him. And then came about two hundred urchins and ragamuffins of every description,—yelling, shouting, hooting, and giving vent to their exuberant mirth in terms but little complimentary to the high functionaries belonging to the Court of the reigning Duke of Maxo-Stol- burg. Quoths. His Royal Highness wasaghast! his lordly visitor was horrified. Into the hotel rushed the three Germans; while half-a-dozen policemen, armed with their bludgeons, darted in amongst the crowd with the intention of dispersing it. This was at length done; and then the Court official, looking significantly at the reigning Dake, said, “Now, your Royal Highness mast really pardon me for observing that your followers “T will have jastice, my lord!” exclaimed the Grand Duke, terrifically irate. ‘ I insist that all the persons concerned in this scandalous treatment of my followers, be ordered to leave London within twenty-four hours, and Kogland within three days, on pain of being shut up in the Tower for the rest of their lives.” “Your Royal Highness forgets,” answered the Court official, “ that this is not Germany.” “Then the sooner it is made like Germany the better!” exclaimed the infuriate Duke. ‘“ [Tam sure my brother is trying hard enough ‘‘ No doubt, your Royal Highness,” rejoined the official ; “ and we are certainly making progress iu that desirable direction. But still things cannot be done in this country on a sudden. We have a Constitation ‘¢ And what the devil do you want with a Con- stitution ?” exclaimed the Grand Dake. “Do ae we do in Germany: keep a Constitution as a sop to throw to the people when irritated—and then take i¢ away again when the public mind has calmed down.” “The plan is certainly a good one, your Royal Highness,” answered the lordly sycophant ; “ bat unfortunately, in this country, we have a Pariia- ment—we have lawe——” “Trash! rubbish |” ejaculated the Grand Dake, with a disgust that certainly was most unfeigned. “ Get rid of them: do as we do in Germany! ride rough-ahod over them! Ah! it is fortanste 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 because I reguire a little money !"’ a COMIC DOG (CO