nd my garters are a trifle tight.

Sometimes we talk about the laws and politics said the earl if Her
Majesty is in that kind of a mood.

Just then the splendid edifice appeared in view and Mr Salteena licked
his dry lips at sight of the vast crowd. All round were carrages full
of costly peaple and outside the railings stood tall Life Guards
keeping off the mere peaple who had gathered to watch the nobility
clatter up. Lord Clincham began to bow right and left raising his
cocked hat to his friends. There was a lot of laughter and friendly
words as the cab finally drew up at the front door. Two tall life
guards whisked open the doors and one of them kindly tipped the
cabman. Mr Salteena followed his lordship up the grand steps trying to
feel as homely as he could. Then a splendid looking fellow in a red
tunick and a sort of black velvit tam a [Pg 67] shanter stepped forward
from the throng shouting what name please.

The Earl of Clincham and Lord Hyssops calmly replied the earl gently
nudging Mr Salteena to act up. Mr Salteena nodded and blinked at the
menial as much as to say all is well and then he and the earl hung up
their cocked hats on two pegs. This way cried a deep voice and another
menial apeared wearing stiff white britches top boots and a green
velvit coat with a leather belt also a very shiny top hat. They
followed this fellow down countless corridoors and finally came to big
folding doors. The earl twiddled his mustache and slapped his leg with
his white glove as calmly as could be. Mr Salteena purspired rarther
hard and gave a hitch to his garters to make sure.

Then the portles divided and their names were shouted in chorus by
countless domesticks. The sumshious room was packed with men of a
noble nature dressed like the earl in satin knickerboccers etc and
with [Pg 68] ladies of every hue with long trains and jewels by the
dozen. You could hardly moove in the gay throng. Dukes were as nought
as there were a good lot of princes and Arch Dukes as it was a very
superier levie indeed. The earl and Mr Salteena struggled through the
crowd till they came to a platform draped with white velvit. Here on a
golden chair was seated the prince of Wales in a lovely ermine cloak
and a small but costly crown. He was chatting quite genially with some
of the crowd.

Up clambered the earl followed at top speed by Mr Salteena.

Hullo Clincham cried the Prince quite homely and not at all grand so
glad you turned up--qu