er's
violence.

"Another firebrand,--another emissary of English disturbance. Hardenberg
was perfectly right when he said the English nation pays off the meanest
subserviency to their own aristocracy by hunting down all that is
noble in every state of Europe. There, sir, he hit the mark in the very
centre. Slaves at home, rebels abroad,--that's your code!"

"We contrive to mix up a fair share of liberty with our bondage, sir."

"In your talk,--only in your talk; and in the newspapers, Stubber. I
have studied you closely and attentively. You submit to more social
indignities than any nation, ancient or modern. I was in London in '15,
and I remember, at a race-course,--Ascot, they called it,--the Prince
had a certain horse called Rufus."

"I rode him," said Stubber, dryly.

"_You_ rode him?"

"Yes, sir. I was his jock for the King's Plate. There was a matter of
twenty-eight started,--the largest field ever known for the Cup,--and
Rufus reared, and, falling back, killed his rider; and the Duke of
Dunrobin sent for me, and told me to mount. That's the way I came to be
there."

"_Per Bacco!_ it was a splendid race, and I'm sure I never suspected
when I cheered you coming in, that I was welcoming my future minister.
Eh, Stubber, only fancy what a change!"

Stubber only shrugged his shoulders, as though the alteration in fortune
was no such great prize after all.

"I won two thousand guineas on that day, Stubber. Lord Heddleworth paid
me in gold, I remember; for they picked my pocket of three rouleaux on
the course. The Prince laughed so at dinner about it, and said it was
pure patriotism not to suffer exportation of bullion. A great people
the English, that I must say! The display of wealth was the grandest
spectacle I ever beheld; and such beauty too! By the way, Stubber, our
ballet here is detestable. Where did they gather together that gang of
horrors?"

"What? signifies it, sir, if the Austrian Jagers are bivouacked in the
theatre?"

"Very true, by Jove!" said the Duke, pondering. "Can't we hit upon
something,--have you no happy suggestion? I have it, Stubber,--an
admirable thought. We 'll have Upton to dinner. We 'll make it appear
that he has come here specially to treat with us. There is a great
coldness just now between St. James's and Vienna. Upton will be charmed
with the thought of an intrigue; so will be La Sabloukoff. We 'll not
invite the Field-Marshal Rosen-krantz: that will itself offend Austria