Page:Memoirs of the Lady Hester Stanhope.djvu/208

 dressed in a pigeon-breasted coloured court-dress. "And," she added, as she related the story, "I gave it him prettily once: I said his red face came from the reflection of red boxes; for, when at breakfast and dinner, he was always calling for his despatch-boxes, and pretending mysterious political affairs, although they were no more than an invitation to a party, or a present of a little Tokay, or something equally trivial. Lord C. had learned his manners, I suppose, from Lord Chesterfield, or some book or another. He attempted being pompous with his large stomach, and his garter on a bad leg, and his great whiskers sticking out as far as this," (here Lady Hester put her fore-fingers indexwise to her cheeks to show how far) "and a forehead quite flat like the Bourbons. He would talk very loud in the lobby as he came in, or contrive to have his red box brought to him, as if he had papers of great importance in it."

"One day, at court," continued Lady Hester, "I was talking to the Duke of Cumberland of Lord Abercom’s going over to Addington, and saying I would give it to him for it, when Lord Abercom happened to approach us. The prince, who dearly enjoyed such things, immediately cried out—'Now, little bulldog, have at him.' This was uttered at the moment I advanced towards him. You. know, doctor, he had asked for the Garter just before Mr. Pitt went out,