chapter 12.
royal favour
there was a brilliant levee, all stars and garters; and a splendid drawing-room, all plumes and séduisantes. many a bright eye, as its owner fought his way down st. james’s street, shot a wistful glance at the enchanted bow-window where the duke and his usual companions, sir lucius, charles annesley, and lord squib, lounged and laughed, stretched themselves and sneered: many a bright eye, that for a moment pierced the futurity that painted her going in state as duchess of st. james.
his majesty summoned a dinner party, a rare but magnificent event, and the chief of the house of hauteville appeared among the chosen vassals. this visit did the young duke good; and a few more might have permanently cured the conceit which the present one momentarily calmed. his grace saw the plate, and was filled with envy; his grace listened to his majesty, and was filled with admiration. o, father of thy people! if thou wouldst but look a little oftener on thy younger sons, their morals and their manners might be alike improved.
his majesty, in the course of the evening, with his usual good-nature, signalled out for his notice the youngest, and not the least distinguished, of his guests. he complimented the young duke on the accession to the ornaments of his court, and said, with a smile, that he had heard of conquests in foreign ones. the duke accounted for his slight successes by reminding his majesty that he had the honour of being his godson, and this he said in a slight and easy way, not smart or quick, or as a repartee to the royal observation; for ‘it is not decorous to bandy compliments with your sovereign.’ his majesty asked some questions about an emperor or an archduchess, and his grace answered to the purpose, but short, and not too pointed. he listened rather than spoke, and smiled more assents than he uttered. the king was pleased with his young subject, and marked his approbation by conversing with that unrivalled affability which is gall to a roundhead and inspiration to a cavalier. there was a bon mot, which blazed with all the soft brilliancy of sheet lightning. what a contrast to the forky flashes of a regular wit! then there was an anecdote of sheridan — the royal sheridaniana are not thrice-told tales — recounted with that curious felicity which has long stamped the illustrious narrator as a consummate raconteur. then —— but the duke knew when to withdraw; and he withdrew with renewed loyalty.