But it
was not true that the giant sported stilts, or that the dwarf was a
sucking-babe. Some people are so suspicious. Then a bell rang, and
assembled them in the concert-room; and the Bird of Paradise who to-day
was consigned to the cavaliership of Peacock Piggott, condescended to
favour them with a new song, which no one had ever heard, and which,
consequently, made them feel more intensely all the sublimity of
exclusiveness. Shall we forget the panniers of shoes which Melnotte had
placed in every quarter of the gardens? We will say nothing of
Maradan's cases of caps, because, for this incident, Lord Bagshot is our
authority.
On a sudden, it seemed that a thousand bugles broke the blue air,
and they were summoned to a dejeuner in four crimson tents worthy of
Sardanapalus.
Over each waved the scutcheon of the president. Glittering were the
glories of the hundred quarterings of the house of Darrell. '_Si non e
vero e ben trovato_,' was the motto. Lord Darrell's grandfather had been
a successful lawyer. Lord Squib's emblazonry was a satire on its owner.
'_Holdfast_' was the motto of a man who had let loose.
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