The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

THE REVIEW 121 myself am a native of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha, and conse- quently a subject — bah, a subject!” he repeated, with indescribable disgust, ‘‘ of this very duke in whose honour the grand review has to-day been held.”’ “Indeed! ”’ ejaculated Christian, whose curiosity was all the more vividly excited because he saw that his German acquaintance had something yet to reveal. ‘‘ Your conver- sation interests me much — ” “ And I could, if I chose, astonish you more than I have interested you,” interrupted the German. Then, after a pause, he went on to say, in a confidential manner and in a whispering tone, “‘I saw this precious retinue to which you just now alluded, and I recognized all the knaves composing it as well as I should recognize my own brother if he came into the room at this moment. Ay, and my blood boils with shame and indignation at the bare idea of the astounding cheat which is being practised upon the English people. All Germany is degraded, humiliated, and dishonoured by this fellow of a duke who dresses up his lackeys and bestows upon them titles of nobility which they only bear while in England, and which they will have to put off when they get back to Germany and return to the pantry, the stable, and the kitchen.” “‘ Surely you are using some hyperbolic figure of speech? ”’ exclaimed Christian, perfectly astounded at what he had just heard. ““ No figure of speech at all,’’ responded the German, who spoke with the concentrated bitterness of supreme disgust, but with an air of the most genuine sincerity. ‘“ If you have patience to hear me run through the catalogue of names, with the real and the fictitious avocations of the individuals themselves, I will tell you something that cannot fail to strike you with amazement.” Christian leaned over the table with a look of profoundest interest, and the German gentleman proceeded as follows: ‘“‘ In the first place, there is the fellow Wronki, who is in reality the duke’s butler, but he is dubbed a count for the nonce and elevated to the dignity of lord steward. Then there is Gumbinnen, who when at home in Germany is the duke’s valet, but in England he is a chevalier and lord cham- berlain. Thirdly, there is the half-starved scamp Raggid- bak, the duke’s stable groom, but who is now called groom COMNMIC OOO) <S) (CO) im