y most respectable men in society who will act Figaro? When
Farintosh thought fit, in the fulness of time and the blooming pride of
manhood, to select a spouse, and to elevate a marchioness to his throne,
no one dared gainsay him. When he called upon his mother and sisters,
and their ladyships' hangers-on and attendants; upon his own particular
kinsmen, led captains, and toadies; to bow the knee and do homage to the
woman whom he delighted to honour, those duteous subjects trembled
and obeyed; in fact, he thought that the position of a Marchioness of
Farintosh was under heaven, and before men, so splendid, that, had he
elevated a beggar-maid to that sublime rank, the inferior world was
bound to worship her.

So my lord's lady-mother, and my lord's sisters, and his captains, and
his players of billiards, and the toadies of his august person, all
performed obeisance to his bride-elect, and never questioned the will of
the young chieftain. What were the private comments of the ladies of the
family we had no means of knowing; but it may naturally be supposed that
his lordship's gentlemen-in-waiting, Captain Henchman, Jack Todhunter,
and the rest, had many misgivings of their own respecting their patrons
change in life, and could not view without anxiety the advent of a
mistress who might reign over him and them, who might possibly not like
their company, and might exert her influence over her husband to oust
these honest fellows from places in which they were very comfortable.
The jovial rogues had the run of my lord's kitchen, stables, cellars,
and cigar-boxes. A new marchioness might hate hunting, smoking, jolly
parties, and toad-eaters in general, or might bring into the house
favourites of her own. I am sure any kind-hearted man of the world must
feel for the position of these faithful, doubtful, disconsolate vassals,
and have a sympathy for their rueful looks and demeanour as they eye the
splendid preparations for the ensuing marriage, the grand furniture sent
to my lord's castles and houses, the magnificent plate provided for his
tables--tables at which they may never have a knife and fork; castles
and houses of which the poor rogues may never be allowed to pass the
doors.

When, then, "the elopement in High Life," which has been described in
the previous pages, burst upon the town in the morning papers, I can
fancy the agitation which the news occasioned in the faithful bosoms of
the generous Todhunter, and the atta