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Chapter 23
Onthatfirstday,assoonasthecollopswereready,Clunygavethemwithhisownhandasqueezeofalemon(forhewaswellsuppliedwithluxuries)andbadeusdrawintoourmeal.
“They,”saidhe,meaningthecollops,“aresuchasIgavehisRoyalHighnessinthisveryhouse;batingthelemonjuice,foratthattimeweweregladtogetthemeatandneverfashedforkitchen.Indeed,thereweremairdragoonsthanlemonsinmycountryintheyearforty-six.”
Idonotknowifthecollopsweretrulyverygood,butmyheartroseagainstthesightofthem,andIcouldeatbutlittle.AllthewhileClunyentertaineduswithstoriesofPrinceCharlie’sstayintheCage,givingustheverywordsofthespeakers,andrisingfromhisplacetoshowuswheretheystood.Bythese,IgatheredthePrincewasagracious,spiritedboy,likethesonofaraceofpolitekings,butnotsowiseasSolomon.Igathered,too,thatwhilehewasintheCage,hewasoftendrunk;sothefaultthathassince,byallaccounts,madesuchawreckofhim,hadeventhenbeguntoshowitself.
WewerenosoonerdoneeatingthanClunybroughtoutanold,thumbed,greasypackofcards,suchasyoumayfindinameaninn;andhiseyesbrightenedinhisfaceasheproposedthatweshouldfalltoplaying.
NowthiswasoneofthethingsIhadbeenbroughtuptoeschewlikedisgrace;itbeingheldbymyfatherneitherthepartofaChristiannoryetofagentlemantosethisownlivelihoodandfishforthatofothers,onthecastofpaintedpasteboard.
