Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRINCE OF WALES 153 repeater set round with brilliants, and, finding that it was close upon ten o’clock, he rang a bell by means of a silken cord which hung between the curtains and the wall. A French valet, dressed in plain black, but with the ereatest neatness and precision, and whose age was about thirty, instantly answered the summons. “Germain,” said the Prince of Wales, “ the morning is very cold — is it not?” “Very cold, your Royal Highness,” answered the de- pendent, who spoke English without the slightest foreign accent. | “Then light the fire,’’ continued the prince. This command was immediately obeyed, and in a few moments the flames went rushing up the wide-mouthed chimney with a cheerful sound. ‘Tell me, Germain,” said George, after a pause, ‘‘ was I very particularly drunk last night? Speak candidly now — and without any nonsense.” “Your Royal Highness was certainly not sober,” re- sponded the valet, in a submissive tone. ‘“ Damn the sobriety! ” ejaculated the prince, impatiently. “I know perfectly well that 1 was far from sober — but | wish to be informed whether I was helpless or incapable.’’ “I had the honour of supporting your Royal Highness hither,’”’ said Germain. ‘““ And of putting me into bed — eh? ”’ cried the prince. “TI experienced that honour likewise,’ answered the valet. “Then I must have been damnation drunk — and there is no longer any doubt upon the point,”’ said George. ‘‘ But this soda-water lies disagreeably cold upon my stomach. Give me a little drop of brandy, Germain.”’ This order was obeyed, and the prince swallowed the dram with a relish. “Now unlock the door leading to the private staircase,”’ continued the prince. ‘ I am expecting Mr. Meagles, and he will breakfast with me.” “Your Royal Highness will take breakfast in bed? ”’ observed the valet, interrogatively. “No; I shall rise and have a bath first,’ was the reply. “But you will not serve up breaktast until eleven, and 1 in the meantime I shall not want you.” Gomichoo cS (E(0)