The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUCAL SECRETARY 103 “T am waiting to see Baron Farthenless,” answered Christian. ‘ Does your lordship shortly expect him? ”’ “Yes, I suspects him in one — two — tree minute. He am gone for to go to de palace to see de prince, and he come back vare soon wid de moneys.”’ “Gone to the palace to get money of the prince? ”’ ejacu- lated Christian, thus giving involuntary utterance to his amazement. “Yes, begar!’’ responded Raggidbak. ‘“ De vare goot Prince Albert sall act as — how you call it? — oh, de banker of de duke all de times we sall be in England. I waiting too for de moneys. I vare rich man in mine own country — vare rich, but me forgot to bring over wid me de tousand pounds which I was meant fortodo. Have you got such a ting, yong mans, as six shilling in your pocket? and we sall drink one bottle of de wine till de baron sall come back.”’ Christian was determined not to he mulcted a second time by Baron Ragegidbak, and so he gave an evasive re- sponse, whereat his lordship looked deeply indignant and turned haughtily away, playing with his gilt brass watch- chain. Almost immediately afterward Baron Farthenless made his appearance, and then Christian was surprised to see how the noblemen and gentlemen of the ducal retinue crowded around the privy purse, surveying him with looks of eager inquiry, and ready to stretch forth their dirty hands with hungry avidity to clutch whatsoever spoil he had to place at their disposal. And spoil it really was, — spoil wrung from the overtaxed industry of the working classes, and which, though by Act of Parliament passing through the hands of a naturalized foreign prince, was thus destined to find its way into the pockets of these German cormorants whom the reigning Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha had brought over with him. Christian was infinitely disgusted, and as soon as he had received his own salary, he took his departure. We must now observe that during the week which had thus elapsed since he entered into the service of the Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha, he had every day seen the beautiful Isabella Vincent, but only for a few minutes at a time, and on no occasion to enter into discourse with her save in the presence of Mr. or Mrs. Chubb. His interest in the charming CONNIE DOOkKS (C(O)