e masses of gold. On each side of the door there
stood, upright and motionless, men who were called doorkeepers. Just
before you came to this door, the gallery widened out into a circular
space. In this space was an armchair with an immense back, and on it,
judging by his wig and from the amplitude of his robes, was a
distinguished person. It was William Cowper, Lord Chancellor of England.
To be able to cap a royal infirmity with a similar one has its
advantages. William Cowper was short-sighted. Anne had also defective
sight, but in a lesser degree. The near-sightedness of William Cowper
found favour in the eyes of the short-sighted queen, and induced her to
appoint him Lord Chancellor, and Keeper of the Royal Conscience. William
Cowper's upper lip was thin, and his lower one thick--a sign of
semi-good-nature.

This circular space was lighted by a lamp hung from the ceiling. The
Lord Chancellor was sitting gravely in his large armchair; at his right
was the Clerk of the Crown, and at his left the Clerk of the
Parliaments.

Each of the clerks had before him an open register and an inkhorn.

Behind the Lord Chancellor was his mace-bearer, holding the mace with
the crown on the top, besides the train-bearer and purse-bearer, in
large wigs.

All these officers are still in existence. On a little stand, near the
woolsack, was a sword, with a gold hilt and sheath, and belt of crimson
velvet.

Behind the Clerk of the Crown was an officer holding in his hands the
coronation robe.

Behind the Clerk of the Parliaments another officer held a second robe,
which was that of a peer.

The robes, both of scarlet velvet, lined with white silk, and having
bands of ermine trimmed with gold lace over the shoulders, were similar,
except that the ermine band was wider on the coronation robe.

The third officer, who was the librarian, carried on a square of
Flanders leather the red book, a little volume, bound in red morocco,
containing a list of the peers and commons, besides a few blank leaves
and a pencil, which it was the custom to present to each new member on
his entering the House.

Gwynplaine, between the two peers, his sponsors, brought up the
procession, which stopped before the woolsack.

The two peers, who introduced him, uncovered their heads, and Gwynplaine
did likewise.

The King-at-Arms received from the hands of Blue Mantle the cushion of
silver cloth, knelt down, and presented the black portfolio on the
cush