The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 220: what you’re looking at

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a Wee ed 214 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. forthcoming. Christian—in spite of his resolves not to be fleeced by his German friends—now stepped forward; and addressing himself to the Chevalier Kadger, said in the most delicate manner, ‘ I have some change at your disposal.” The amount was accordingly produced: the waiter sped off to procure the Royal pantaloons, which now quickly made their appearance, after the reigning Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha had been kept precisely half-an-hour shivering in the cold for the want of them. Things progressed some- in the drive,—some containing elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen—but most of them being empty, their owners preferring to enter the en- closure upon foot, in order to obtain a nearer view of the military proceedings. Prince Albert and several English generals, attended by “a brilliant staff’—to use the invariable newspaper phrase— were present: but asa matter of course, the reign- ing Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha was the lion of the occasion; and the public journals of the | spectators. [mmense numbers of carriages thronged what more comfortably now: the various toilettes | following day spoke of this illustrious Prince as were completed; and as noon approached, a suffi- being attended by “a splendid retinue of all the cient number of horses arrived from Buckingham | great dignitaries of his household.” It was how- Palace for the accommodation of the Duke and his ever somewhat difficult to conceive by what possible suite. A crowd was collected in the street to feast means the reporters could have become so ena- their eyes with the grandeur of the imposing pro- | moured of Herr Humbogh’s plume, Baron Raggid- eession ; and his Royal Higness marched forth in | bak’s pantaloons, or in short of any portion of the al the glory of the inexpressibles which Christian | toilet of the Ducal suite. “But perhaps, like Ashton’s money had redeemed from pawn at the hands of the mistrustful tailor. Herr Humbogh looked splendid indeed with the plume of pheasant’s feathers; and Baron Raggidbak’s breeches held | firmly together as his lordship mounted the steed. _ allotted to his use. The other nobles and gentle- | men of the suite were equally well pleased with | their own toilettes; and as the sun was shining, its beams made all their worthless jewellery glitter like real gold. The ducal cortege passed away amidst the cheers of the multitudes, who little suspected what sort of persons they were on whom | they thus bestowed their applause. And here we may add that the mistrustful tailor, who would not give the German Sovereign credit for three guineas, forthwith ordered the arms of that self-_ same sovereign to be fixed above his shop-door ; and on the strength of the three guineas’ worth of | work which he had done, he wrote himself up, distance ; and we know that the gentlemen of the daily press do not choose to be hypercritical in any matter where Royalty or Royalty’s adherents are concerned. Christian mingled with the crowd, and looked about to see whether his sister, with Lady Octavian Meredith, was present. He however saw nothing of them; and at length getting wearied of the scene, began to think of departure. He had gained the outskirt of the crowd, when he beheld the Honourable Mr. Stanhope lounging along upon foot ; and it was tolerably evident that this gentle- | theatrical properties, it all looked very well ata /man must have lunched well, for it was clear that _he was labouring under the effect of copious po- females who happened to come in his way. Chris- '“PAILOR, BY APPOINTMENT, TO HIS ROYAL. , | HiGuyess THE DvuKE oF MAxn-STOLBURG- | QUOTHA.” Before concluding this chapter, we will take the liberty of drawing one moral from the incidents we have related: which is, that gathered crowds, instead of thoughtlessly and giddily bestowing their cheers upon royal and aristocratic personages simply because they bear royal and aristocratic titles, should pause to ask themselves whether these personages, by their own merits, deserve the homage thus shown them and the plaudits thus showered upon their heads ? CHAPTER XLIL. THE REVIEW. THE Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha had signi- fied to Christian through Count Wronki, who sig- nified the same through the Chevalier Gumbinnen, who delivered the message through the Chevalier Kadger, that he might take a holiday on this grand occasion. Our hero accordingly resolved to see the review; and he bent his way towards Hyde Park for the purpose. It is not our intention to enter into descriptive details with regard to the spectacle: suffice it to say that the large enclosure of the Park was occu- pied by the troops as well as by a large crowd of ‘he perceived an elegantly dressed young lady a ee tations. Not that he was so far intoxicated as to stagger about: but he was much excited, and with an impudent leer was regarding all the good-looking tian felt an insuperable disgust for this man, with the villany of whose character he was so well ac- quainted ; and as he beheld him rivet his insolent libertine looks upon several females who did not happen to have any male companions, he could scarcely restrain his indignation. All of a sudden hastening along, and looking with a sort of wild- ness all about, as if she had by accident been se- parated from the friends who brought her thither, or else as if she were in search of some particular equipage amongst the countless vehicles which were drawn up three deep in the road against the wooden barriers, But now, as she drew nigh and Christian caught a glimpse of her countenance, how great was his surprise and joy on recognising the beautiful Isabella Vincent ! He was springing forward to greet her, and to ascertain wherefore she was thus looking confused and dismayed, when he beheld Wilson Stanhope accost her; and he evidently said something im- pudent—for Isabella flung upon him a look of dig- nified indignation, though at the same instant her countenance became crimson. This. was sufficient —aye, and far more than sufficient to excite Chris- tian to the extreme of irritation against that trea- cherous accomplice in the Duke of Marchmont’s foul iniquity. With one bound Christian was upon the spot; and quick as thought Stanhope was | levelled with the earth,—our young hero’s hand dealing the blow which thus prostrated him. “ Heavens, Miss Vincent!” he ejaculated, in- GOnnie -