Member for Glamorgan; and at the exit from the corridor by
a deputation of one for every two of the Barons of the Cinque Ports,
four on the right and four on the left, the Cinque Ports being eight in
number. William Hastings did obeisance for Hastings; Matthew Aylmor, for
Dover; Josias Burchett, for Sandwich; Sir Philip Boteler, for Hythe;
John Brewer, for New Rumney; Edward Southwell, for the town of Rye;
James Hayes, for Winchelsea; George Nailor, for Seaford. As Gwynplaine
was about to return the salute, the King-at-Arms reminded him in a low
voice of the etiquette, "Only the brim of your hat, my lord." Gwynplaine
did as directed. He now entered the so-called Painted Chamber, in which
there was no painting, except a few of saints, and amongst them St.
Edward, in the high arches of the long and deep-pointed windows, which
were divided by what formed the ceiling of Westminster Hall and the
floor of the Painted Chamber. On the far side of the wooden barrier
which divided the room from end to end, stood the three Secretaries of
State, men of mark. The functions of the first of these officials
comprised the supervision of all affairs relating to the south of
England, Ireland, the Colonies, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain,
Portugal, and Turkey. The second had charge of the north of England, and
watched affairs in the Low Countries, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Poland,
and Russia. The third, a Scot, had charge of Scotland. The two
first-mentioned were English, one of them being the Honourable Robert
Harley, Member for the borough of New Radnor. A Scotch member, Mungo
Graham, Esquire, a relation of the Duke of Montrose, was present. All
bowed, without speaking, to Gwynplaine, who returned the salute by
touching his hat. The barrier-keeper lifted the wooden arm which,
pivoting on a hinge, formed the entrance to the far side of the Painted
Chamber, where stood the long table, covered with green cloth, reserved
for peers. A branch of lighted candles stood on the table. Gwynplaine,
preceded by the Usher of the Black Rod, Garter King-at-Arms, and Blue
Mantle, penetrated into this privileged compartment. The barrier-keeper
closed the opening immediately Gwynplaine had passed. The King-at-Arms,
having entered the precincts of the privileged compartment, halted. The
Painted Chamber was a spacious apartment. At the farther end, upright,
beneath the royal escutcheon which was placed between the two windows,
stood two old men, in red velv