vestibule,
when
the
sound
of
footsteps
,
rapidly
descending
the
staircase
,
fell
upon
his
ears
.
He
hastened
to
conceal
himself
beneath
the
table
,
the
cloaks
serving
effectually
to
veil
his
person
.
Two
footmen
in
gorgeous
liveries
shortly
made
their
appearance
in
the
vestibule
.
"
Where
did
you
say
her
majesty
is
?
"
demanded
one
.
"
In
the
Roman
drawing-room
,
"
replied
the
other
.
"
The
Sculpture
Gallery
is
to
be
lighted
up
this
evening
.
You
can
attend
to
that
duty
at
once
,
if
you
will
.
"
"
Very
well
,
"
said
the
first
speaker
;
and
he
left
the
vestibule
by
means
of
a
door
on
the
right-hand
side
,
but
which
door
he
neglected
to
close
behind
him
.
The
other
servant
advanced
straight
up
to
the
marble
table
,
and
,
sweeping
off
the
cloaks
,
threw
them
all
over
his
left
arm
.
Holford
's
person
was
now
exposed
to
the
eyes
of
any
one
who
might
happen
to
glance
beneath
that
table
.
The
domestic
was
,
however
,
a
tall
and
stately
individual
,
and
kept
his
head
elevated
.
Having
taken
the
cloaks
from
the
table
,
he
slowly
retraced
his
steps
up
the
stairs
,
and
disappeared
from
Holford
's
view
.
The
young
adventurer
started
from
his
hiding-place
.
The
door
,
by
which
one
of
the
servants
had
left
the
vestibule
for
the
purpose
of
repairing
to
the
Sculpture
Gallery
,
was
open
.
It
communicated
with
a
long
passage
,
only
feebly
lighted
.
Holford
hesitated
not
a
moment
,
but
proceeded
in
this
direction
.
He
advanced
to
the
end
of
the
passage
,
and
entered
a
narrow
corridor
,
branching
off
to
the
right
,
and
lighted
by
lamps
sustained
in
the
hands
of
two
tall
statues
.
Again
the
sound
of
footsteps
fell
upon
Holford
's
ears
;
and
he
had
scarcely
time
to
slip
behind
one
of
these
statues
,
when
the
domestic
whom
he
had
before
seen
enter
that
part
of
the
building
,
appeared
at
the
end
of
the
corridor
.
The
servant
passed
without
observing
him
;
and
the
youthful
intruder
emerged
from
his
lurking-place
.
He
now
pursued
his
way
,
without
interruption
,
through
several
passages
and
rooms
,
until
he
reached
a
magnificent
marble
hall
,
at
the
farther
extremity
of
which
were
numerous
dependants
of
the
palace
,
grouped
together
,
and
conversing
in
a
low
tone
.
Holford
instantly
shrank
back
into
the
passage
by
which
he
had
reached
the
hall
.
Exactly
opposite
was
the
entrance
to
the
Sculpture
Gallery
.
To
retrace
his
steps
was
useless
:
he
determined
to
proceed
.
But
how
was
he
to
cross
the
hall
?
A
few
moments
'
reflection
suggested
to
him
an
expedient
.
He
walked
boldly
across
the
hall
;
and
his
presence
excited
no
suspicion
,
it
being
impossible
for
the
dependants
collected
together
at
the
other
end
to
observe
the
nature
of
his
garb
at
that
distance
.
He
now
gained
access
to
the
Sculpture
Gallery
;
but
there
he
found
no
means
of
concealment
.
He
determined
to
explore
elsewhere
,
and
speedily
found
himself
in
a
magnificent
saloon
,
adjoining
the
library
,
and
where
he
beheld
sofas
,
with
the
drapery
hanging
down
to
the
carpet
.
It
was
beneath
one
of
these
downy
sofas
that
the
daring
intruder
into
the
royal
dwelling
took
refuge
;
and
there
,
comfortably
extended
at
full
length
,
he
chuckled
triumphantly
at
the
success
which
had
,
up
to
this
moment
,
attended
his
adventurous
undertaking
.
We
have
before
said
that
he
was
of
very
small
stature
;
he
was
moreover
thin
and
delicate
,
and
easily
packed
away
.
Some
time
passed
,
and
no
one
appeared
to
interrupt
the
reflections
of
Henry
Holford
.
Hour
after
hour
glided
by
;
and
at
length
the
palace-clock
struck
nine
.
Scarcely
had
the
last
chime
died
away
,
when
the
folding
doors
were
thrown
open
,
and
a
gorgeous
procession
of
nobles
and
ladies
entered
the
apartment
.
The
magnificence
of
the
dresses
worn
by
England
's
peeresses
and
high-born
dames
—
the
waving
plumes
,
the
glittering
jewels
,
the
sparkling
diamonds
,
—
combined
with
a
glorious
assemblage
of
female
loveliness
,
formed
a
spectacle
,
at
once
awe-inspiring
,
ravishing
,
and
delightful
.
A
little
in
advance
of
that
splendid
cortège
,
—
conversing
easily
with
the
ladies
who
walked
one
pace
behind
her
on
either
hand
,
and
embellished
with
precious
stones
of
regal
price
,
—
moved
the
sovereign
of
the
mightiest
empire
in
the
universe
.
Upon
her
high
and
polished
brow
,
Victoria
wore
a
tiara
of
diamonds
:
diamonds
innumerable
,
and
of
immense
value
,
studded
her
stomacher
;
diamond
pendants
adorned
her
ears
;
and
diamonds
also
glistened
upon
her
wrists
.
She
walked
with
grace
and
dignity
;
and
her
noble
bearing
compensated
for
the
shortness
of
her
stature
.
The
queen
advanced
to
the
very
sofa
beneath
which
Holford
lay
concealed
,
and
seated
herself
upon
it
.
The
ladies
and
nobles
of
the
court
,
together
with
the
guests
present
upon
the
occasion
,
stood
at
a
respectful
distance
from
the
sovereign
.
The
splendour
of
the
scene
was
enhanced
by
the
brilliant
uniforms
of
several
military
officers
of
high
rank
,
and
the
court-dresses
of
the
foreign
ambassadors
.
The
blaze
of
light
in
which
the
room
was
bathed
,
was
reflected
from
the
diamonds
of
the
ladies
,
and
the
stars
and
orders
which
the
nobles
wore
upon
their
breasts
.
At
that
time
Victoria
was
yet
a
virgin-queen
.
If
not
strictly
beautiful
,
her
countenance
was
very
pleasing
.
Her
light
brown
hair
was
worn
quite
plain
;
her
blue
eyes
were
animated
with
intellect
;
and
when
she
smiled
,
her
lips
revealed
a
set
of
teeth
white
as
Oriental
pearls
.
Her
bust
was
magnificent
,
and
her
figure
good
,
in
spite
of
the
lowness
of
her
stature
.
Her
manner
was
distinguished
by
somewhat
of
that
impatience
which
characterised
all
the
family
of
George
the
Third
,
and
which
seemed
to
result
from
a
slightly
nervous
temperament
.
She
appeared
to
require
answers
to
her
questions
more
promptly
than
court
etiquette
permitted
those
around
her
to
respond
to
her
inquiries
.
With
regard
to
the
condition
of
the
humbler
classes
of
her
subjects
,
she
was
totally
ignorant
:
she
knew
that
they
were
suffering
some
distress
;
but
the
fearful
amount
of
that
misery
was
carefully
concealed
from
her
.
She
only
read
the
journals
favourable
to
the
ministry
;
and
they
took
care
to
report
nothing
which
might
offend
or
wound
her
.
Thus
,
she
who
should
have
known
every
thing
relative
to
her
people
,
in
reality
scarcely
knew
any
thing
!
Foremost
amid
the
chiefs
of
foreign
diplomacy
was
the
Ambassador
from
the
court
of
Castelcicala
.
He
was
a
man
of
advanced
years
;
and
on
his
breast
glittered
the
stars
of
all
the
principal
orders
of
knighthood
in
Europe
—
the
Cross
and
Bath
of
England
,
the
Legion
of
Honour
of
France
,
the
Golden
Fleece
of
Spain
,
the
Black
Eagle
of
Prussia
,
the
Sword
of
Sweden
,
the
Crescent
of
Turkey
,
Saint
Nepomecenus
of
Austria
,
and
the
Lion
Rampant
of
Castelcicala
.
The
Ambassadors
of
France
and
Austria
were
also
present
upon
this
occasion
,
—
Count
Sebastiani
,
the
representative
of
Louis-Philippe
,
being
clad
in
the
splendid
uniform
of
a
General
in
the
French
army
,
and
wearing
the
grand
cordon
of
the
Legion
of
Honour
,
—
and
Prince
Esterhazy
,
the
Austrian
Minister
,
and
himself
the
possessor
of
estates
more
extensive
than
many
a
German
principality
,
wearing
a
court
dress
covered
with
lace
and
glittering
with
stars
.
Several
members
of
the
English
Cabinet
were
also
present
.
There
was
one
whose
good-tempered
and
handsome
countenance
,
gentlemanly
demeanour
,
stout
and
sturdy
form
,
and
complacent
smile
,
would
hardly
have
induced
a
stranger
to
believe
that
this
was
Viscount
Melbourne
,
the
Prime
Minister
of
England
.
Next
was
a
short
personage
,
with
a
refined
and
intelligent
,
though
by
no
means
an
imposing
air
,
—
a
something
sharp
and
cunning
in
the
curl
of
the
mouth
,
and
the
flash
of
the
eye
,
—
and
a
weak
disagreeable
voice
,
frequently
stammering
and
hesitating
at
a
long
sentence
:
this
was
Lord
John
Russell
,
the
Secretary
for
the
Home
Department
.
Near
Lord
John
Russell
was
a
tall
man
of
about
fifty
,
—
very
good-looking
,
with
dark
and
well-curled
locks
,
glossy
whiskers
,
and
an
elegant
figure
,
—
but
excessively
foppish
in
his
attire
,
and
somewhat
affected
in
manner
;
—
and
this
was
Lord
Palmerston
,
Secretary
for
Foreign
Affairs
.
Conversing
with
this
nobleman
was
a
personage
with
pale
and
sallow
cheeks
,
luxuriant
and
naturally-curling
locks
,
—
dark
and
interesting
in
appearance
,
and
in
the
prime
of
life
,
—
whose
conversation
denoted
him
to
be
a
man
of
elegant
taste
,
and
whose
manners
were
those
of
a
finished
gentleman
;
but
who
little
suited
the
idea
which
a
stranger
would
have
formed
of
a
great
viceroy
or
a
responsible
minister
:
—
nevertheless
,
this
was
the
Marquis
of
Normanby
,
lately
Lord-Lieutenant
of
Ireland
,
and
at
the
time
of
which
we
are
speaking
,
Secretary
for
the
Colonies
.
The
conversation
turned
upon
the
specimens
of
art
in
the
gallery
of
sculpture
,
which
the
noble
company
had
just
visited
.
In
this
manner
an
hour
passed
away
;
and
at
the
expiration
of
that
period
,
the
queen
and
her
numerous
guests
repaired
to
the
drawing-rooms
on
the
first
floor
,
where
arrangements
had
been
made
for
a
grand
musical
entertainment
.
The
entire
pageantry
was
viewed
with
ease
,
and
the
conversation
plainly
heard
,
by
the
plebeian
intruder
upon
that
scene
of
patrician
splendour
,
and
glory
,
and
wealth
.
The
musical
tones
of
the
queen
's
voice
had
fallen
upon
his
ears
:
he
had
listened
to
the
words
of
great
lords
and
high-born
ladies
.
At
that
moment
how
little
,
how
contemptible
did
he
feel
himself
to
be
!
Never
had
he
entertained
so
humble
an
opinion
of
his
own
worth
and
value
in
society
as
he
did
at
that
period
.
He
—
a
common
pot-boy
in
a
public-house
—
had
for
an
hour
been
the
unseen
companion
of
a
queen
and
her
mightiest
paladins
and
loveliest
dames
;
—
and
had
he
been
discovered
in
his
retreat
,
he
would
have
been
turned
ignominiously
forth
,
like
the
man
in
the
parable
who
went
to
the
marriage-feast
without
a
wedding-garment
.
For
two
more
mortal
hours
did
Holford
remain
beneath
the
sofa
,
crampled
by
his
recumbent
and
uneasy
position
,
and
already
more
than
half
inclined
to
regret
the
adventure
upon
which
he
had
so
precipitately
entered
.
At
length
the
palace
grew
quiet
,
and
servants
entered
the
room
in
which
Holford
was
concealed
,
to
extinguish
the
lights
.
The
moment
that
this
duty
was
performed
,
and
the
domestics
had
withdrawn
,
Holford
emerged
from
beneath
the
sofa
,
and
seated
himself
upon
it
.
He
was
proud
to
think
that
he
now
occupied
the
place
where
royalty
had
so
lately
been
.
The
voice
of
the
queen
still
seemed
to
ring
in
his
ears
;
and
he
felt
an
unknown
and
unaccountable
species
of
happiness
in
recalling
to
mind
and
pondering
upon
all
that
had
fallen
from
her
lips
.
At
that
moment
how
he
envied
those
peers
and
high-born
dames
who
were
privileged
to
approach
the
royal
presence
and
bask
beneath
the
smile
of
the
sovereign
;
—
how
he
wished
that
his
lot
had
been
cast
in
a
different
sphere
!
But
—
no
!
it
was
useless
to
regret
what
could
not
be
remedied
;
and
,
although
he
was
now
in
a
palace
,
and
seated
upon
the
very
cushion
which
a
few
hours
previously
had
been
pressed
by
royalty
,
he
was
not
one
atom
less
Henry
Holford
,
the
pot-boy
!
The
reverie
of
this
extraordinary
youth
was
long
.
Visions
the
most
wild
and
fantastical
sustained
a
powerful
excitement
in
his
imagination
.
At
length
the
clock
struck
two
.
Holford
awoke
from
his
strange
meditations
,
and
collected
his
scattered
ideas
.
He
now
felt
the
cravings
of
hunger
,
and
determined
to
explore
the
palace
in
search
of
food
.
He
had
already
seen
enough
of
its
geography
to
be
enabled
to
guess
the
precise
position
of
the
servants
'
offices
;
and
thither
he
now
directed
his
steps
.
He
reached
the
great
marble
hall
,
which
was
lighted
by
lamps
:
there
was
no
one
there
.
He
crossed
it
,
and
proceeded
along
those
passages
which
he
had
already
threaded
a
few
hours
before
.
After
wandering
about
for
some
time
,
and
,
to
his
infinite
surprise
and
joy
,
without
encountering
a
soul
,
he
reached
the
servants
'
offices
.
A
short
search
conducted
him
to
a
well-stored
larder
.
Some
of
the
dishes
had
evidently
been
put
away
in
a
hurry
,
for
silver
spoons
and
forks
had
been
left
in
them
.
Holford
might
have
possessed
himself
of
property
of
considerable
value
:
but
such
an
idea
never
for
a
moment
entered
his
head
.
He
moreover
contented
himself
with
the
simplest
food
he
could
find
;
then
,
remembering
that
four-and-twenty
hours
might
elapse
ere
he
should
be
enabled
to
return
to
the
larder
,
he
supplied
himself
with
a
sufficient
amount
of
provender
to
last
during
that
interval
.
Having
adopted
this
precaution
,
he
stole
back
again
to
the
room
where
the
friendly
sofa
had
already
afforded
a
secure
hiding-place
.
He
once
more
crept
beneath
the
costly
drapery
,
extended
himself
upon
his
back
,
and
fell
asleep
.
CHAPTER
LIX
.
THE
ROYAL
LOVERS
.
HOLFORD
awoke
with
a
start
.
At
that
moment
the
time-piece
upon
the
mantel
struck
five
.
It
was
still
quite
dark
.
The
young
man
felt
cold
and
nervous
.
He
had
dreamt
that
he
was
discovered
and
ejected
from
the
palace
amidst
the
jeers
and
taunts
of
the
servants
.
He
now
suddenly
recollected
that
the
domestics
would
most
probably
soon
arrive
to
cleanse
and
arrange
the
apartment
;
and
detection
in
that
case
must
be
certain
.
It
struck
him
that
he
had
better
endeavour
to
escape
at
once
from
the
royal
dwelling
.
Then
he
thought
and
fondly
flattered
himself
that
the
same
good
fortune
which
had
hitherto
attended
him
in
this
adventure
would
still
follow
him
.
This
idea
has
caused
many
a
hesitating
mind
to
decide
upon
pursuing
a
career
of
crime
,
or
folly
,
or
peril
.
So
was
it
with
Holford
;
and
he
resolved
to
remain
in
the
palace
at
least
a
short
time
longer
.
But
he
perceived
the
absolute
necessity
of
seeking
out
a
secure
place
of
concealment
;
and
it
struck
him
that
the
highest
storeys
of
the
building
were
those
best
calculated
for
this
purpose
.
Leaving
the
apartment
in
which
he
had
availed
himself
of
the
friendly
sofa
,
and
which
,
as
before
stated
,
was
in
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
Sculpture
Gallery
upon
the
ground-floor
,
he
passed
through
the
Library
,
and
returned
to
the
great
hall
.
Ascending
a
magnificent
marble
staircase
,
he
reached
the
Picture
Gallery
.
Every
here
and
there
lamps
were
burning
,
and
thus
he
was
enabled
to
inspect
all
the
scenes
of
magnificence
and
splendour
through
which
he
passed
.
The
Picture
Gallery
in
Buckingham
Palace
is
immediately
over
the
Sculpture
Gallery
,
and
forms
a
wide
passage
separating
the
Green
Drawing
Room
,
the
Throne
Room
,
and
other
state
apartments
from
the
Roman
,
the
Yellow
,
and
the
little
drawing
rooms
.
The
Yellow
Drawing
Room
is
the
largest
and
most
splendid
of
the
suite
.
The
furniture
is
all
richly
carved
,
and
is
overlaid
with
burnished
gilding
and
covered
with
yellow
satin
.
The
wall
is
surrounded
by
polished
pillars
of
syenite
marble
;
and
on
each
panel
is
painted
a
portrait
of
some
royal
personage
.
The
Dining
Room
also
leads
out
of
the
Picture
Gallery
.
This
gallery
itself
is
decorated
and
adorned
upon
classic
models
.
The
frames
of
the
pictures
are
very
plain
,
but
neat
,
and
appropriated
to
the
style
of
the
architecture
.
There
is
nothing
gorgeous
in
this
gallery
:
every
thing
is
in
good
taste
;
and
yet
the
mouldings
and
fret-work
of
the
ceiling
are
of
the
most
elaborate
description
.
The
pictures
in
the
gallery
are
all
originals
by
eminent
masters
,
and
are
the
private
property
of
the
sovereign
.
It
may
be
here
observed
that
the
queen
is
passionately
attached
to
the
Fine
Arts
,
in
which
,
indeed
,
she
is
a
proficient
.
In
every
room
of
the
palace
there
are
some
excellent
paintings
;
and
in
each
apartment
occupied
by
the
queen
,
with
the
exception
of
the
Throne
Room
,
there
is
a
grand
pianoforte
.
With
a
lamp
in
his
hand
,
Henry
Holford
proceeded
through
those
magnificent
apartments
which
communicated
with
the
Picture
Gallery
.
He
was
astonished
at
the
assemblage
of
wealth
and
splendour
that
met
his
eyes
on
every
side
.
From
time
to
time
he
seated
himself
upon
the
softest
ottomans
,
and
in
the
gilded
chairs
—
in
every
place
where
he
deemed
it
probable
that
the
queen
might
have
rested
.
At
length
he
reached
the
Throne
Room
.
The
imperial
seat
itself
was
covered
over
with
a
velvet
cloth
,
to
protect
it
against
the
dust
.
Holford
removed
the
cloth
;
and
the
splendours
of
the
throne
were
revealed
to
him
.
He
hesitated
for
a
moment
:
he
felt
as
if
he
were
committing
a
species
of
sacrilege
;
—
then
triumphing
over
this
feeling
—
a
feeling
which
had
appeared
like
a
remorse
—
he
ascended
the
steps
of
the
throne
;
—
he
placed
himself
in
the
seat
of
England
's
monarch
.
Had
the
sceptre
been
there
he
would
have
grasped
it
;
—
had
the
crown
been
within
his
reach
,
he
would
have
placed
it
upon
his
head
!
But
time
pressed
;
and
he
was
compelled
to
leave
those
apartments
in
which
a
strange
and
unaccountable
fascination
induced
him
to
linger
.
He
ascended
a
staircase
leading
to
another
storey
;
and
now
he
proceeded
with
extreme
caution
,
for
he
conceived
that
he
must
be
in
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
royal
sleeping
apartments
.
He
hastened
up
to
the
highest
storey
he
could
reach
,
and
entered
several
passages
from
which
doors
opened
on
either
side
.
One
of
these
doors
was
ajar
;
the
light
of
a
lamp
in
the
passage
enabled
him
to
ascertain
that
the
chamber
into
which
it
led
was
full
of
old
furniture
,
trunks
,
boxes
,
bedding
,
and
other
lumber
.
This
was
precisely
the
place
which
suited
the
adventurous
pot-boy
;
and
he
hastened
to
conceal
himself
amidst
a
pile
of
mattresses
which
formed
a
secure
,
warm
,
and
comfortable
berth
.
Here
he
again
fell
asleep
;
and
when
he
awoke
the
sun
was
shining
brightly
.
He
partook
of
his
provisions
with
a
good
appetite
,
and
then
deliberated
within
himself
what
course
he
should
pursue
.
He
felt
madly
anxious
to
be
near
the
person
of
the
queen
once
more
:
he
longed
to
hear
her
voice
again
;
—
he
resolved
to
risk
every
thing
to
gratify
these
inclinations
.
He
began
to
understand
that
the
vast
extent
of
the
palace
,
and
the
many
different
ways
of
reaching
the
various
floors
and
suites
of
apartments
,
constituted
the
elements
of
his
safety
,
and
greatly
diminished
the
risk
of
encountering
any
of
the
inmates
of
the
royal
dwelling
.
He
was
insane
enough
,
moreover
,
to
believe
that
some
good
genius
or
especial
favour
of
fortune
protected
him
;
and
these
impressions
were
sufficiently
powerful
to
induce
him
to
attempt
any
fresh
enterprise
within
the
walls
of
the
palace
.
While
he
was
debating
within
himself
how
he
should
proceed
in
order
to
satisfy
his
enthusiastic
curiosity
,
the
door
suddenly
opened
,
and
two
female
servants
of
the
royal
household
entered
the
lumber-room
.
Holford
's
heart
sank
within
him
:
his
limbs
seemed
paralysed
;
his
breath
failed
him
.
"
The
entertainment
takes
place
in
the
Yellow
and
Roman
Drawing
Rooms
this
evening
,
"
said
one
.
"
The
prince
is
expected
at
five
o'clock
,
"
observed
the
other
.
"
He
and
his
father
the
Duke
of
Saxe
Coburg
Gotha
,
are
to
land
at
Woolwich
between
two
and
three
.
"
"
So
I
heard
.
The
royal
carriages
have
already
left
to
meet
her
Majesty
's
guests
.
"
"
Have
you
ever
seen
the
prince
?
"
"
Once
.
He
was
in
England
,
I
remember
,
a
short
time
previous
to
the
accession
of
her
Majesty
.
"
"
Is
he
good
looking
?
"
"
Very
.
Of
course
you
believe
as
I
do
,
and
as
every
one
else
does
that
Prince
Albert
of
Saxe
Coburg
will
—
—
"
"
Soon
be
Prince
Albert
of
England
.
"
"
Hush
!
walls
have
ears
!
"
The
servants
having
discovered
the
article
of
furniture
which
was
the
object
of
their
search
,
left
the
room
—
greatly
to
the
relief
of
Henry
Holford
,
whose
presence
they
never
for
a
moment
suspected
.
Holford
had
thus
accidentally
learnt
some
information
which
served
to
guide
his
plans
.
The
evening
's
entertainment
was
to
take
place
in
the
Yellow
Drawing
Room
—
an
apartment
which
he
could
not
fail
to
recognise
by
the
colour
,
as
one
which
he
had
visited
before
day-break
that
morning
.
He
had
heard
of
Prince
Albert
,
whom
rumour
had
already
mentioned
as
the
happy
being
who
had
attracted
the
queen
's
favour
.
Every
circumstance
now
lent
its
aid
to
induce
the
enthusiastic
lad
to
resolve
upon
penetrating
into
the
Yellow
Drawing
Room
,
by
some
means
or
another
,
during
the
afternoon
.
It
struck
the
intruder
that
if
the
queen
intended
to
receive
company
in
the
Yellow
Drawing-room
in
the
evening
,
she
would
most
probably
welcome
her
illustrious
guests
from
Germany
in
some
other
apartment
.
He
knew
,
from
the
conversation
of
the
two
female
servants
,
that
the
Grand
Duke
of
Saxe-Coburg
Gotha
and
Prince
Albert
,
were
to
arrive
at
five
:
he
presumed
that
the
inmates
of
the
palace
would
assemble
in
those
points
where
they
could
command
a
view
of
the
ducal
cortège
;
and
he
came
to
the
conclusion
that
the
coast
would
be
most
clear
for
his
purposes
,
at
five
o'clock
.
Nor
was
he
wrong
in
his
conjectures
;
for
scarcely
had
two
minutes
elapsed
after
the
clock
had
proclaimed
the
hour
of
five
,
when
Henry
Holford
was
safely
ensconced
beneath
a
sofa
in
the
Yellow
Drawing
Room
.
At
eight
o'clock
the
servants
entered
and
lighted
the
lamps
.
The
colour
of
the
paper
and
the
satin
of
the
furniture
enhanced
the
splendour
of
the
effulgence
thus
created
in
that
magnificent
saloon
.
At
half-past
nine
the
door
opened
again
;
and
Holford
's
heart
beat
quickly
,
for
he
now
expected
the
appearance
of
the
sovereign
and
her
guests
.
But
,
no
—
not
yet
.
Two
ladies
attached
to
the
court
,
entered
the
drawing-room
,
and
seated
themselves
upon
the
sofa
beneath
which
Holford
lay
concealed
.
"
Well
—
what
think
you
of
the
young
prince
?
"
said
one
.
"
Your
grace
was
seated
next
to
him
.
"
"
Very
handsome
—
and
so
unassuming
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Does
your
grace
really
believe
that
her
Majesty
is
smitten
?
"
"
No
doubt
of
it
.
How
fortunate
for
the
family
of
the
Grand
Duke
of
Saxe-Coburg
!
"
"
Yes
—
fortunate
on
the
score
of
alliance
.
"
"
And
in
a
pecuniary
point
of
view
.
"
"
Not
so
much
as
your
grace
thinks
.
There
has
been
an
absurd
report
in
circulation
that
the
grand
duke
's
revenues
are
so
small
,
none
of
his
family
could
venture
to
appear
at
the
court
of
Vienna
:
and
also
,
that
the
means
of
education
for
the
younger
branches
were
always
excessively
restricted
.
"
"
And
are
not
these
reports
correct
,
countess
?
"
"
By
no
means
.
Your
grace
probably
is
aware
that
the
earl
and
myself
visited
Germany
the
year
before
last
;
and
we
remained
six
weeks
at
Gotha
.
The
Duke
of
Saxe-Coburg
possesses
a
considerable
civil
list
,
and
a
large
private
fortune
.
His
brother
Ferdinand
espoused
the
wealthy
Princess
Kohary
of
Hungary
;
and
another
brother
,
Leopold
,
married
our
lamented
Princess
Charlotte
.
It
has
been
stated
that
Prince
Leopold
himself
was
a
simple
major
in
the
Austrian
service
,
with
nothing
but
his
pay
,
when
he
was
fortunate
enough
to
obtain
the
favour
of
the
Princess
Charlotte
:
this
is
so
far
from
being
correct
,
that
he
never
was
in
the
Austrian
service
at
all
,
but
was
a
general
officer
in
the
Russian
army
,
enjoying
,
in
addition
to
his
full
pay
,
a
princely
allowance
from
his
country
.
"
"
Your
ladyship
has
greatly
pleased
me
with
these
elucidations
.
"
"
Your
grace
honours
me
with
this
mark
of
satisfaction
.
Prince
Albert
was
educated
at
Bonn
,
on
the
Rhine
.
His
mental
qualifications
are
said
to
be
of
a
very
high
order
;
his
disposition
is
amiable
;
and
he
has
obtained
the
affections
of
all
who
know
him
in
Germany
.
"
"
It
is
to
be
hoped
that
her
most
gracious
Majesty
will
enjoy
a
long
,
prosperous
,
and
happy
reign
,
"
said
the
duchess
,
in
a
tone
of
unfeigned
sincerity
.
"
Long
and
prosperous
it
may
be
,
"
returned
the
countess
,
with
a
strange
solemnity
of
voice
and
manner
;
"
but
happy
for
her
—
happy
for
the
sovereign
whom
we
all
so
much
love
,
—
no
—
that
is
impossible
!
"
"
Alas
!
I
know
to
what
you
allude
,
"
observed
the
duchess
,
her
tone
also
changing
.
"
Merciful
heavens
!
is
there
,
then
,
no
perfect
happiness
in
this
world
?
"
"
Where
shall
perfect
happiness
be
found
?
"
exclaimed
the
countess
,
in
a
voice
of
deep
melancholy
,
and
with
a
profound
sigh
.
"
Never
did
any
sovereign
ascend
the
throne
under
more
favourable
circumstances
than
Victoria
.
Enshrined
in
a
nation
's
heart
—
beloved
by
millions
of
human
beings
,
—
wearing
the
proudest
diadem
in
the
universe
,
and
swaying
the
sceptre
of
a
dominion
extensive
as
that
of
Rome
,
in
her
most
glorious
days
,
—
oh
!
why
should
not
Victoria
be
completely
happy
?
Alas
!
she
can
command
the
affections
of
her
people
by
her
conduct
:
—
the
valour
of
her
subjects
,
the
prowess
of
her
generals
,
and
the
dauntless
courage
of
her
admirals
,
can
preserve
her
empire
from
all
encroachment
—
all
peril
;
—
wealth
can
surround
her
with
every
luxury
,
and
all
the
potentates
of
the
earth
may
seek
her
friendship
;
—
but
no
power
—
no
dominion
—
no
wealth
—
no
luxury
—
no
love
,
can
exterminate
the
seeds
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
countess
—
for
God
's
sake
,
talk
not
in
this
manner
!
"
ejaculated
the
duchess
:
"
you
make
me
melancholy
—
so
melancholy
,
that
I
shall
be
dispirited
the
entire
evening
.
"
"
Pardon
me
,
my
dear
friend
;
but
I
know
not
how
our
discourse
gradually
turned
upon
so
sad
a
subject
.
And
yet
the
transition
must
have
been
natural
,
"
added
the
countess
,
in
a
mournful
and
plaintive
voice
;
"
for
,
most
assuredly
,
I
should
not
have
voluntarily
sought
to
converse
upon
so
sad
a
theme
.
"
"
Sad
!
"
cried
the
duchess
;
"
'
tis
sufficient
to
make
one
's
heart
bleed
.
To
think
that
a
young
creature
whom
millions
and
millions
of
beings
idolize
and
adore
—
whose
name
is
upon
every
lip
—
whose
virtues
and
qualifications
are
the
theme
of
every
pen
—
whose
slightest
wish
amounts
to
a
command
,
—
oh
!
to
think
that
this
envied
and
amiable
being
should
be
haunted
,
day
and
night
—
alone
,
or
when
surrounded
by
all
that
is
most
noble
or
most
lovely
in
England
's
aristocracy
,
—
haunted
by
that
dread
fear
—
that
appalling
alarm
—
that
dismal
apprehension
;
—
oh
!
it
is
intolerable
!
"
"
Alas
!
"
said
the
countess
;
"
what
poor
—
what
miserable
creatures
are
we
!
The
hand
of
the
Deity
mingles
gall
with
the
cup
of
nectar
which
is
drunk
by
his
elect
!
There
is
no
situation
in
life
without
its
vexations
.
"
"
Yes
—
vexations
of
all
kinds
!
"
echoed
the
duchess
;
"
for
those
annoyances
which
are
mere
trifles
to
the
lower
classes
,
are
grievous
afflictions
to
us
.
But
—
—
"
At
that
moment
the
time-piece
upon
the
mantel
proclaimed
the
half-hour
after
ten
;
and
the
two
ladies
rose
from
the
sofa
,
observing
to
each
other
,
that
it
was
time
to
hasten
to
attend
upon
the
person
of
their
royal
mistress
.
They
then
withdrew
.
It
may
be
supposed
that
Holford
had
not
lost
one
word
of
the
above
conversation
.
He
had
greedily
drunk
in
every
word
;
—
but
the
concluding
portion
of
it
had
filled
him
with
the
most
anxious
curiosity
,
and
with
wonder
.
To
what
did
those
dark
,
mysterious
hints
bear
reference
?
And
how
could
the
happiness
of
the
sovereign
be
incomplete
?
Those
two
noble
ladies
had
detailed
all
the
elements
of
felicity
which
formed
the
basis
of
the
queen
's
position
;
and
surely
sufficient
had
been
enumerated
to
prove
the
perfection
of
her
happiness
.
And
yet
,
allusion
was
made
to
one
source
of
perpetual
fear
—
one
cause
of
unmixed
alarm
—
one
object
of
ever-present
dread
,
by
which
the
queen
was
haunted
on
all
occasions
.
What
could
this
be
?
Conjecture
was
vain
—
imagination
could
suggest
nothing
calculated
to
explain
this
strange
mystery
.
Shortly
after
eleven
o'clock
the
doors
were
thrown
open
,
and
the
royal
train
made
its
appearance
.
On
the
queen
's
right
hand
walked
Prince
Albert
,
the
sovereign
leaning
gently
upon
his
arm
.
He
was
dressed
in
a
court-garb
,
and
wore
a
foreign
order
upon
his
breast
.
Of
slight
form
and
slender
make
,
his
figure
was
wanting
in
manliness
;
but
his
deportment
was
graceful
.
His
eyes
beamed
kindness
;
and
there
was
something
peculiarly
sweet
and
pleasant
in
his
smile
.
His
countenance
was
expressive
of
intellect
;
his
conversation
was
amusing
.
He
was
evidently
a
very
pleasant
companion
;
and
when
Victoria
and
Albert
walked
down
the
saloon
together
,
there
appeared
a
certain
fitness
in
their
union
which
was
calculated
to
strike
the
most
common
beholder
.
The
queen
and
the
prince
seated
themselves
upon
the
sofa
beneath
which
the
pot-boy
was
concealed
;
and
their
conversation
was
plainly
overheard
by
him
.
The
noble
and
beauteous
guests
—
the
lords
and
the
ladies
of
the
court
—
withdrew
to
a
distance
;
and
the
royal
lovers
—
for
such
already
were
Victoria
and
Albert
—
enjoyed
the
pleasures
of
a
tête-à-tête
.
We
shall
not
record
any
portion
of
their
discourse
—
animated
,
interesting
,
and
tender
though
it
were
:
suffice
it
to
say
,
that
for
a
short
time
they
seemed
to
forget
their
high
rank
,
and
to
throw
aside
the
trammels
of
court
etiquette
,
in
order
to
give
vent
to
those
natural
feelings
which
the
sovereign
has
in
common
with
the
peasant
.
This
tête-à-tête
lasted
for
nearly
an
hour
:
music
and
dancing
then
ensued
;
and
the
entertainment
continued
until
two
o'clock
in
the
morning
.
The
company
retired
—
the
lights
were
extinguished
in
the
state
apartments
—
and
profound
silence
once
more
reigned
throughout
the
palace
.
Holford
paid
another
visit
to
the
larder
,
and
then
retraced
his
steps
unobserved
to
the
lumber-room
,
where
he
slept
until
a
late
hour
in
the
morning
.
CHAPTER
LX
.
REVELATIONS
.
FROM
the
very
first
moment
that
Victoria
was
called
to
the
throne
,
she
manifested
a
strict
determination
to
exact
a
scrupulous
observance
of
all
the
rules
,
regulations
,
and
precedents
which
related
to
court-etiquette
and
official
dignity
.
The
Presence
Chamber
is
never
entered
by
any
one
who
is
not
fully
conversant
with
the
laws
of
the
court
,
and
the
mode
of
conduct
and
demeanour
which
they
enforce
.
The
rigid
maintenance
of
these
rules
is
nevertheless
calculated
to
render
the
queen
an
isolated
being
,
as
it
were
,
amidst
her
court
;
for
no
one
is
permitted
to
commence
a
conversation
nor
make
a
remark
until
first
addressed
by
her
Majesty
.
Then
every
word
must
be
so
measured
—
every
syllable
so
weighed
,
that
the
mere
fact
of
conversing
with
royalty
would
be
deemed
a
complete
labour
,
and
even
a
perilous
undertaking
by
those
not
conversant
with
the
routine
of
a
court
.
Holford
had
seen
much
to
surprise
and
astonish
him
.
The
image
of
the
queen
ever
haunted
his
imagination
:
her
voice
ever
rang
in
his
ears
.
He
disliked
Prince
Albert
:
that
low
,
vulgar
,
uneducated
,
despised
,
obscure
pot-boy
,
entertained
a
feeling
of
animosity
,
—
he
scarcely
knew
wherefore
—
against
the
young
German
who
was
evidently
destined
to
become
the
husband
of
England
's
queen
.
Again
and
again
did
he
ponder
upon
the
mysterious
conversation
between
the
two
ladies
of
the
court
,
which
he
had
overheard
;
—
and
he
felt
an
ardent
and
insuperable
longing
to
fathom
their
meaning
to
the
bottom
.
But
how
was
this
to
be
done
?
He
determined
to
obtain
access
to
the
drawing-room
once
more
,
and
trust
to
the
chapter
of
accidents
to
elucidate
the
mystery
.
Accordingly
,
he
contrived
that
same
afternoon
,
to
obtain
access
to
the
royal
apartments
,
without
detection
,
once
more
;
and
once
more
,
also
,
did
he
conceal
himself
beneath
the
sofa
.
Fortune
appeared
to
favour
his
views
and
wishes
.
Not
many
minutes
had
elapsed
after
he
had
ensconced
himself
in
his
hiding-place
,
when
the
two
ladies
,
whose
conversation
had
so
much
interested
him
on
the
preceding
day
,
slowly
entered
the
Yellow
Drawing-Room
.
The
following
dialogue
then
took
place
:
—
"
How
very
awkward
the
viscount
was
last
evening
,
my
dear
duchess
.
He
would
insist
upon
turning
the
pages
for
me
when
I
sate
at
the
grand
pianoforte
;
and
he
was
always
too
soon
or
too
late
,
although
he
pretended
to
read
the
fantasia
which
I
played
,
bar
by
bar
.
"
"
That
is
very
provoking
!
"
said
the
duchess
.
"
I
believe
there
is
to
be
a
Drawing-Room
to-morrow
,
at
St.
James
's
?
"
"
Yes
:
your
grace
must
have
forgotten
that
her
Majesty
decided
last
evening
upon
holding
one
.
"
"
How
many
a
young
heart
is
fluttering
now
with
anxiety
and
eager
anticipation
of
to-morrow
!
"
observed
the
duchess
.
"
A
Drawing-Room
is
most
formidable
to
the
novice
in
court
affairs
.
But
the
most
entertaining
portion
of
the
embarrassment
of
the
novice
,
is
the
fear
that
the
gentleman
who
bears
the
name
of
the
Court
Circular
,
and
who
is
invariably
stationed
in
the
Presence
Chamber
,
may
omit
to
mention
her
presence
in
the
report
which
he
draws
up
for
the
newspapers
.
"
"
George
the
Third
and
his
consort
held
Drawing-Rooms
weekly
,
for
many
years
,
"
said
the
countess
.
"
George
the
Fourth
held
Drawing-Rooms
but
very
seldom
.
William
and
Adelaide
usually
held
about
five
or
six
in
a
season
.
And
,
after
all
,
what
can
be
more
magnificent
—
what
more
eminently
calculated
to
sustain
the
honour
and
dignity
of
the
crown
,
[
72
]
than
a
British
Court
Drawing-Room
?
The
tasteful
dresses
of
the
ladies
—
the
blaze
of
diamonds
—
the
waving
ostrich
plumes
and
lappets
—
the
gold
net
—
the
costly
tulle
,
constitute
rather
the
characterstics
of
an
oriental
fiction
than
the
reality
of
the
present
day
.
"
"
The
most
magnificent
Drawing-Rooms
,
in
my
opinion
,
"
observed
the
duchess
,
"
are
those
which
we
call
Collar
Days
.
The
appearance
of
the
Knights
of
the
Garter
,
St.
Patrick
,
the
Thistle
,
the
Cross
and
Bath
,
and
all
English
orders
,
in
their
respective
collars
and
jewels
,
in
the
presence
of
the
sovereign
,
is
splendid
in
the
extreme
.
"
"
And
how
crowded
upon
Drawing-Room
days
are
all
the
passages
and
corridors
of
St.
James
's
Palace
,
"
continued
the
countess
.
"
On
the
last
occasion
many
of
the
peers
and
peeresses
of
the
highest
rank
were
compelled
thus
to
wait
for
nearly
three
hours
before
their
carriages
could
reach
the
palace-gates
.
"
"
The
most
beautiful
view
of
splendid
equipages
is
found
in
a
glance
upon
the
Ambassador
's
Court
at
Saint
James
's
,
the
carriages
of
the
foreign
ministers
being
decidedly
the
finest
and
most
tasteful
that
are
seen
in
the
vicinity
of
the
palace
on
those
occasions
.
"
"
Of
a
truth
,
this
must
be
the
most
splendid
court
in
the
world
,
"
said
the
countess
,
—
"
since
France
became
half
republican
(
how
I
hate
the
odious
word
Republic
!
)
,
and
since
Spain
was
compelled
to
copy
France
.
"
"
Yes
—
our
court
is
the
most
splendid
in
the
world
,
"
echoed
the
duchess
,
in
a
tone
of
triumph
,
as
if
her
grace
were
well
aware
that
of
that
court
she
herself
formed
a
brilliant
ornament
;
"
and
more
splendid
still
will
it
be
when
the
queen
shall
have
conferred
her
hand
upon
the
interesting
young
prince
who
arrived
yesterday
.
"
"
Have
you
heard
when
the
royal
intentions
to
contract
an
union
with
his
Serene
Highness
Prince
Albert
,
will
be
communicated
to
the
country
?
"
"
Not
until
the
close
of
the
year
;
and
the
marriage
will
therefore
take
place
at
the
commencement
of
1840.
The
prince
will
pay
but
a
short
visit
upon
this
occasion
,
and
then
return
to
Germany
until
within
a
short
period
of
the
happy
day
.
"
"
God
send
that
the
union
may
be
a
happy
one
!
"
ejaculated
the
countess
.
"
But
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
my
dear
friend
,
do
not
relapse
again
into
those
gloomy
forebodings
which
rendered
me
melancholy
all
yesterday
evening
,
"
interrupted
the
duchess
.
"
Alas
!
your
grace
is
well
aware
of
my
devoted
attachment
to
our
royal
mistress
;
and
if
there
be
times
when
I
tremble
for
the
consequences
of
—
—
"
"
Breathe
it
not
—
give
not
utterance
to
the
bare
idea
!
"
cried
the
duchess
,
in
a
tone
of
the
most
unfeigned
horror
.
"
Providence
will
never
permit
an
entire
empire
to
experience
so
great
a
misfortune
as
this
!
"
"
Maladies
of
that
kind
are
hereditary
,
"
said
the
countess
,
solemnly
;
—
"
maladies
of
that
species
descend
through
generations
—
unsparing
—
pitiless
—
regardless
of
rank
,
power
,
or
position
;
—
oh
!
it
is
horrible
to
contemplate
!
"
"
Horrible
—
most
horrible
!
"
echoed
the
duchess
.
"
The
mind
that
thus
labours
under
constant
terror
of
the
approach
of
that
fearful
malady
,
requires
incessant
excitement
—
perpetual
change
of
scene
;
and
this
restlessness
which
we
have
observed
on
the
part
of
our
beloved
Sovereign
—
and
those
intervals
of
deep
gloom
and
depression
of
spirits
,
when
that
craving
after
variety
and
bustle
is
not
indulged
—
"
"
Are
all
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
I
comprehend
you
too
well
.
"
"
And
marriage
in
such
a
case
—
—
"
"
Perpetuates
the
disease
!
Yes
—
yes
—
we
must
surround
our
sovereign
with
all
our
love
,
all
our
affection
,
all
our
devotion
—
for
bitter
,
bitter
are
the
moments
of
solitary
meditation
experienced
at
intervals
by
our
adored
mistress
.
"
"
Such
is
our
duty
—
such
our
desire
,
"
said
the
countess
.
"
The
entire
family
of
George
the
Third
has
inherited
the
seeds
of
disease
—
physical
and
mental
—
—
"
"
Scrofula
and
insanity
,
"
said
the
duchess
,
with
a
cold
shudder
.
"
Which
were
inherent
in
that
monarch
,
"
added
the
countess
.
"
Did
your
grace
ever
hear
the
real
cause
and
spring
of
that
development
of
mental
alienation
in
George
the
Third
?
"
"
I
know
not
precisely
to
what
incident
your
ladyship
alludes
,
"
said
the
duchess
.
"
That
unhappy
sovereign
,
"
resumed
the
countess
,
"
when
Prince
of
Wales
,
fell
in
love
with
a
beautiful
young
Quakeress
,
whose
name
was
Hannah
Lightfoot
,
and
whom
he
first
beheld
at
the
window
of
a
house
in
Saint
James
's
Street
.
For
some
time
his
Royal
Highness
and
the
young
lady
met
in
secret
,
and
enjoyed
each
other
's
society
.
At
length
the
passion
of
the
prince
arrived
at
that
point
when
he
discovered
that
his
happiness
entirely
depended
upon
his
union
with
Hannah
Lightfoot
.
His
Royal
Highness
confided
his
secret
to
his
next
brother
Edward
,
to
Dr.
Wilmot
(
who
was
really
the
author
of
the
letters
of
Junius
)
,
and
to
my
mother
.
Those
personages
were
the
only
witnesses
of
the
legal
marriage
of
the
Prince
of
Wales
with
Hannah
Lightfoot
,
which
was
solemnized
by
Dr.
Wilmot
,
in
Curzon
Street
Chapel
,
May
Fair
,
in
the
year
1759.
"
"
I
have
heard
that
such
a
connection
existed
,
"
said
the
duchess
;
"
but
I
never
thought
until
now
that
it
was
of
so
serious
and
solemn
a
nature
.
"
"
Your
grace
may
rely
upon
the
truth
of
what
I
now
tell
you
.
Not
long
after
the
prince
came
to
the
throne
,
the
Ministers
discovered
his
connection
with
the
Quakeress
.
The
'
Royal
Marriage
Act
'
was
ultimately
framed
to
prevent
such
occurrences
with
regard
to
future
princes
;
but
it
did
not
annul
the
union
between
George
the
Third
and
Hannah
Lightfoot
.
"
"
Was
there
any
issue
from
this
marriage
?
"
inquired
the
duchess
.
"
There
was
issue
,
"
answered
the
countess
solemnly
,
a
deep
gloom
suddenly
passing
over
her
countenance
.
"
At
my
mother
's
death
I
discovered
certain
papers
which
revealed
to
me
many
,
many
strange
events
connected
with
the
court
of
George
the
Third
;
and
in
which
she
was
a
confidant
.
But
the
history
of
Hannah
Lightfoot
is
a
sad
one
—
a
very
melancholy
one
;
and
positively
can
I
assert
that
it
led
to
the
subsequent
mental
aberration
of
the
king
.
"
"
And
there
was
issue
resulting
from
that
union
,
your
ladyship
says
?
"
exclaimed
the
duchess
,
deeply
interested
in
these
disclosures
.
"
Yes
—
there
was
,
there
was
!
"
returned
the
countess
.
"
But
do
not
question
me
any
more
at
present
—
on
a
future
occasion
I
will
place
in
the
hands
of
your
grace
the
papers
which
my
deceased
mother
left
behind
her
,
and
which
I
have
carefully
treasured
up
in
secret
—
unknown
even
to
my
husband
!
"
"
And
are
the
revelations
so
very
interesting
?
"
demanded
the
duchess
.
"
The
events
which
have
taken
place
in
the
family
of
George
the
Third
would
make
your
hair
stand
on
end
,
"
replied
the
countess
,
sinking
her
voice
almost
to
a
whisper
.
"
But
,
pray
—
question
me
no
more
at
present
.
Another
time
—
another
time
,
"
she
added
hastily
,
"
you
shall
know
all
that
I
know
!
"
There
was
something
so
exceedingly
mysterious
and
exciting
in
the
tone
and
manner
of
the
countess
,
that
the
duchess
evidently
burned
with
curiosity
to
make
further
inquiries
.
But
her
fair
companion
avoided
the
subject
with
terror
and
disgust
;
and
the
conversation
accordingly
reverted
to
the
engagement
existing
between
Prince
Albert
and
Queen
Victoria
.
Nothing
more
was
,
however
,
said
which
we
deem
it
necessary
to
record
;
—
but
when
the
two
ladies
had
retired
from
the
apartment
,
Holford
had
plenty
of
food
for
mental
digestion
.
He
had
discovered
the
fatal
drawback
to
the
perfect
happiness
of
his
sovereign
;
and
he
now
perceived
that
those
who
dwell
in
palaces
,
and
wear
diadems
upon
their
brows
,
are
not
beyond
the
reach
of
the
sharpest
arrows
of
misfortune
.
During
the
remainder
of
that
evening
Holford
was
the
uninterrupted
possessor
of
the
Yellow
Drawing-Room
.
There
was
a
grand
ball
in
another
suite
of
apartments
;
but
it
was
not
until
between
three
and
four
o'clock
in
the
morning
that
the
pot-boy
considered
it
safe
to
quit
his
hiding-place
.
He
was
now
undecided
whether
to
beat
a
retreat
from
the
royal
dwelling
,
or
to
favour
it
with
his
presence
a
little
longer
.
The
last
conversation
which
he
had
overheard
between
the
duchess
and
the
countess
,
had
excited
within
him
the
most
lively
interest
;
and
he
was
anxious
to
hear
more
of
those
strange
revelations
connected
with
the
family
of
George
the
Third
,
a
continuation
of
which
the
countess
had
appeared
to
promise
her
noble
friend
.
He
was
moreover
emboldened
by
the
success
which
had
hitherto
attended
his
adventures
in
the
palace
;
and
he
consequently
resolved
upon
prolonging
his
stay
in
a
place
where
a
morbid
taste
for
the
romantic
encountered
such
welcome
food
.
Upon
leaving
the
Yellow
Drawing-Room
,
at
about
half-past
three
in
the
morning
,
as
before
stated
,
Holford
proceeded
to
the
pantry
to
lay
in
a
supply
of
provender
,
as
usual
.
He
was
so
pressed
with
hunger
upon
this
occasion
,
that
he
commenced
an
immediate
attack
upon
the
provisions
;
and
was
thus
pleasantly
engaged
when
,
to
his
horror
and
dismay
,
he
beheld
the
shadow
of
a
human
form
suddenly
pass
along
the
wall
—
for
he
was
standing
with
his
back
to
the
lamp
that
was
burning
in
the
passage
.
He
turned
round
—
and
his
eyes
encountered
the
cadaverous
and
sinister
countenance
of
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
Well
this
is
fortunate
,
"
said
the
latter
.
"
What
!
you
here
!
"
ejaculated
Holford
,
trembling
from
head
to
foot
.
"
Yes
—
certainly
:
why
not
?
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
It
struck
me
that
as
you
never
came
near
me
and
the
Cracksman
,
you
must
be
still
in
the
royal
crib
;
and
I
considered
that
to
be
a
sign
that
all
was
right
.
So
I
mustered
up
my
courage
,
and
came
to
look
after
you
.
The
Cracksman
's
waiting
on
the
hill
.
"
"
Then
let
us
leave
this
place
immediately
,
"
cried
Holford
.
"
We
can
do
nothing
at
present
—
I
was
going
to
take
my
departure
within
an
hour
.
Come
—
let
us
go
;
and
I
will
tell
you
every
thing
when
we
are
in
a
place
of
security
.
"
"
What
's
the
meaning
of
this
?
"
demanded
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
You
ca
n't
have
been
here
all
this
time
without
having
found
out
where
the
plate
is
kept
.
"
"
Listen
for
one
moment
,
"
said
Holford
,
a
sudden
idea
striking
him
:
"
the
queen
leaves
for
Windsor
the
day
after
to-morrow
—
then
will
be
the
time
to
do
what
you
require
;
and
I
can
give
you
all
the
information
you
will
want
.
At
present
nothing
can
be
done
—
nothing
;
and
if
we
stay
here
much
longer
we
shall
be
discovered
.
"
"
Well
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
;
"
provided
that
some
good
will
result
from
your
visit
—
—
"
"
There
will
—
there
will
.
"
"
Then
I
must
follow
your
advice
;
for
of
course
you
are
better
able
to
judge
of
what
can
be
done
and
what
ca
n't
be
done
in
this
crib
,
than
me
.
"
The
Resurrection
Man
glanced
around
him
;
but
fortunately
there
was
no
plate
left
upon
the
shelves
on
this
occasion
.
Holford
felt
inwardly
pleased
at
this
circumstance
;
for
the
idea
of
abstracting
anything
beyond
a
morsel
of
food
from
the
palace
was
abhorrent
to
his
mind
.
The
Resurrection
Man
intimated
that
he
was
ready
to
depart
;
and
the
pot-boy
was
only
too
glad
to
be
the
means
of
hurrying
him
away
.
They
left
the
palace
,
and
entered
the
gardens
,
which
they
threaded
in
safety
.
A
profound
silence
reigned
around
:
the
morning
air
was
chill
and
piercing
.
The
fresh
atmosphere
was
nevertheless
most
welcome
and
cheering
to
the
young
pot-boy
,
who
had
passed
so
many
hours
in
close
and
heated
rooms
.
They
reached
the
wall
on
Constitution
Hill
in
safety
,
and
in
a
few
moments
were
beyond
the
enclosure
of
the
royal
domains
.
CHAPTER
LXI
.
THE
"
BOOZING
KEN
"
ONCE
MORE
.
MORNING
dawned
upon
the
great
metropolis
.
The
landlord
and
landlady
of
the
"
Boozing-Ken
"
on
Saffron
Hill
were
busily
employed
,
as
we
have
seen
them
upon
a
former
occasion
,
in
dispensing
glasses
of
"
all
sorts
"
to
their
numerous
customers
.
The
bar
was
surrounded
by
every
thing
the
most
revolting
,
the
most
hideous
,
and
the
most
repulsive
in
human
shape
.
"
Well
,
Joe
,
"
said
the
landlord
to
a
man
dressed
like
a
butcher
,
and
whose
clothes
emitted
a
greasy
and
carrion-like
smell
,
"
what
news
down
at
Cow
Cross
?
"
"
Nothink
partikler
,
"
answered
the
man
,
who
followed
the
pleasant
and
agreeable
calling
of
a
journeyman-knacker
.
"
We
have
been
precious
full
of
work
lately
—
and
that
's
all
I
knows
or
cares
about
.
Seventy-nine
horses
I
see
knocked
down
yesterday
;
and
out
of
them
,
fifty-three
was
so
awful
diseased
and
glandered
when
they
was
brought
in
,
that
we
was
obleeged
to
kill
'
em
and
cut
'
em
up
with
masks
and
gloves
on
.
It
was
but
three
weeks
ago
that
we
lost
our
best
man
,
Ben
Biddle
:
—
you
recollects
Ben
Biddle
?
"
"
I
knowed
him
well
,
"
said
the
landlord
.
"
He
took
his
'
morning
'
here
reglar
for
sixteen
years
,
and
never
owed
a
penny
.
"
"
But
do
you
know
how
he
died
?
"
demanded
the
knacker
,
staring
the
landlord
significantly
in
the
face
.
"
Ca
n't
say
that
I
do
.
"
"
He
died
of
a
fearful
disease
which
is
getting
more
and
more
amongst
human
creeturs
every
day
,
"
continued
the
knacker
:
—
"
he
died
of
the
glanders
!
"
"
The
glanders
!
"
ejaculated
the
landlady
,
with
a
shudder
;
and
all
the
persons
who
were
taking
their
"
morning
"
at
the
bar
crowded
around
the
knacker
to
hear
the
particulars
of
Ben
Biddle
's
death
.
"
You
see
,
"
resumed
the
knacker
,
now
putting
on
a
very
solemn
and
important
air
,
"
there
is
more
diseased
horses
sold
in
Smithfield-Market
than
sound
'
uns
.
The
art
of
doctoring
a
dying
horse
so
that
he
looks
as
lively
and
sound
as
possible
to
any
one
which
ai
n't
wery
knowing
in
them
matters
,
is
come
to
sich
a
pitch
,
that
I
'm
blowed
if
the
wisest
ai
n't
taken
in
at
times
.
We
have
horses
come
into
our
yard
that
was
bought
the
same
morning
in
Smithfield
,
and
seemed
slap-up
animals
;
but
in
a
few
hours
the
effects
of
the
stimulants
given
to
'
em
goes
off
,
the
plugs
falls
out
of
their
noses
,
and
there
they
are
at
the
point
of
death
.
Why
—
if
a
horse
has
got
four
white
feet
,
they
'll
paint
three
,
or
perhaps
all
on
'
em
black
;
and
that
part
of
the
deception
is
n't
never
found
out
till
they
're
flayed
in
our
yard
.
"
"
But
about
poor
Biddle
?
"
said
the
landlord
.
"
Well
,
in
comes
a
horse
one
day
,
"
continued
the
knacker
;
"
and
although
we
saw
he
was
dead
lame
and
altogether
done
up
,
we
never
suspected
that
he
had
the
glanders
.
So
Ben
Biddle
had
the
killing
on
him
.
He
drives
the
pole-axe
into
the
animal
's
skull
;
and
he
takes
the
wire
and
thrusts
it
into
the
brain
as
business-like
as
possible
.
While
he
was
stooping
over
the
beast
,
his
hat
falls
off
his
head
,
and
his
handkerchief
,
which
he
always
carried
in
his
hat
,
fell
just
upon
the
horse
's
mouth
.
The
brute
snorted
out
a
last
groan
at
the
wery
moment
that
Ben
picks
up
his
handkerchief
.
So
Ben
puts
the
handkerchief
again
into
his
hat
,
and
puts
his
hat
upon
his
head
;
and
away
we
all
goes
to
the
public-house
to
have
a
drop
of
half-and-half
.
"
"
Very
right
too
,
"
said
the
landlord
who
no
doubt
spoke
feelingly
.
"
Well
,
"
proceeded
the
knacker
,
"
Ben
drinks
his
share
,
and
presently
he
takes
his
handkerchief
out
of
his
hat
quite
permiscuous
like
,
and
wipes
his
face
.
In
a
few
minutes
he
feels
a
strange
pain
in
the
eyes
just
as
if
some
dust
had
got
in
;
—
but
he
did'nt
think
much
on
it
,
and
so
we
all
goes
back
to
the
yard
.
In
a
few
hours
Ben
was
taken
so
bad
he
was
obliged
to
give
up
work
;
and
by
eight
or
nine
o'clock
we
was
forced
to
take
him
to
Bartholomew
's
Hospital
.
He
was
seized
with
dreadful
fits
of
womiting
;
and
matter
come
out
of
his
nose
,
eyes
,
and
month
.
By
the
morning
his
face
was
all
covered
over
with
sores
;
holes
appeared
in
his
eyes
,
just
for
all
the
world
as
if
they
had
got
a
most
tremendous
small-pox
in
'
em
;
and
his
nose
fell
off
.
By
three
o'clock
in
the
arternoon
he
was
a
dead
man
;
and
I
heerd
say
that
he
died
in
the
most
awful
agonies
.
"
"
And
that
was
the
glanders
?
"
said
the
landlady
.
"
Yes
:
he
got
'
em
by
wiping
his
face
with
the
pocket-handkerchief
that
had
fallen
on
the
horse
's
nostrils
.
"
"
How
shocking
!
"
ejaculated
several
voices
.
"
And
is
the
glanders
increasing
?
"
asked
the
landlord
.
"
The
glanders
is
increasing
,
"
answered
the
knacker
;
"
and
I
feel
convinced
that
it
will
soon
become
a
disease
as
reglar
amongst
human
beings
as
the
small-pox
or
measles
;
'
cos
the
authorities
does
n't
do
their
duty
in
preventing
the
sale
of
diseased
animals
.
"
"
And
how
would
you
remedy
the
evil
?
"
"
I
would
have
the
Lord
Mayor
and
Corporation
appoint
a
proper
veterinary
surgeon
as
Inspector
in
Smithfield
Market
—
a
man
of
great
experience
and
knowledge
,
who
wo
n't
let
himself
be
humbugged
or
gammoned
by
any
of
those
infernal
thieves
that
gets
a
living
—
aye
,
and
makes
fortunes
too
,
by
selling
diseased
animals
doctored
up
for
the
occasion
.
"
"
Yes
—
that
's
certainly
a
capital
plan
of
your'n
,
"
said
the
landlord
approvingly
.
"
But
what
becomes
of
all
the
flesh
of
the
horses
that
go
to
your
yards
?
"
"
You
may
divide
the
horses
that
's
killed
by
the
knacker
into
three
sorts
,
"
answered
the
man
:
"
that
is
—
first
,
those
horses
that
is
quite
healthy
but
that
has
met
with
accidents
in
their
limbs
;
second
,
those
that
is
perhaps
the
least
thing
diseased
,
or
in
the
wery
last
stage
through
old
age
;
and
third
,
those
that
is
altogether
rotten
.
The
flesh
of
the
first
is
bought
by
men
whose
business
it
is
to
boil
it
carefully
,
and
sell
it
to
the
sassage-makers
:
it
makes
the
sassages
firm
,
and
is
much
better
than
beef
.
There
is
n't
a
sassage
shop
in
London
that
do
n't
use
it
.
Then
the
tongues
of
these
first-rate
animals
goes
to
the
butchers
,
who
salts
and
pickles
'
em
:
and
I
'm
blow
'd
if
any
one
could
tell
'
em
from
the
best
ox-tongues
.
"
"
Well
,
I
'll
never
eat
sassages
or
tongues
again
!
"
cried
the
landlady
.
"
Oh
!
nonsense
—
it
's
all
fancy
!
"
exclaimed
the
knacker
.
"
Half
the
tongues
that
is
sold
for
ox-tongues
is
horses
'
tongues
.
A
knowing
hand
may
always
tell
'
em
,
'
cos
they
're
rayther
longer
and
thinner
:
for
my
part
,
I
like
'
em
just
as
well
—
every
bit
.
"
"
And
the
flesh
of
the
second
sort
of
horses
?
"
"
That
goes
to
supply
the
cat's-meat
men
in
the
swell
neighbourhoods
;
and
the
third
sort
,
that
is
altogether
putrid
and
rotten
,
is
taken
up
by
the
cat's-meat
men
in
the
poor
