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Chapter 26. Nobody’s State of Mind

           But,astheyhadallbeenintheBritishEmbassywayinsundrypartsoftheearth,andasaBritishEmbassycannotbetterestablishacharacterwiththeCircumlocutionOfficethanbytreatingitscompatriotswithillimitablecontempt(elseitwouldbecomeliketheEmbassiesofothercountries),Clennamfeltthatonthewholetheylethimofflightly.

           ThedignifiedoldgentlemanturnedouttobeLordLancasterStiltstalking,whohadbeenmaintainedbytheCircumlocutionOfficeformanyyearsasarepresentativeoftheBritannicMajestyabroad.ThisnobleRefrigeratorhadicedseveralEuropeancourtsinhistime,andhaddoneitwithsuchcompletesuccessthattheverynameofEnglishmanyetstruckcoldtothestomachsofforeignerswhohadthedistinguishedhonourofrememberinghimatadistanceofaquarterofacentury.

           Hewasnowinretirement,andhence(inaponderouswhitecravat,likeastiffsnow-drift)wassoobligingastoshadethedinner.TherewasawhisperofthepervadingBohemiancharacterinthenomadicnatureoftheserviceanditscuriousracesofplatesanddishes;butthenobleRefrigerator,infinitelybetterthanplateorporcelain,madeitsuperb.Heshadedthedinner,cooledthewines,chilledthegravy,andblightedthevegetables.

           Therewasonlyoneotherpersonintheroom:amicroscopicallysmallfootboy,whowaitedonthemalevolentmanwhohadn’tgotintothePost-Office.Eventhisyouth,ifhisjacketcouldhavebeenunbuttonedandhisheartlaidbare,wouldhavebeenseen,asadistantadherentoftheBarnaclefamily,alreadytoaspiretoasituationunderGovernment.

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