Page:Thomas De Quincey The Defier of Ghosts Manuscript.pdf/2

 be taught—whom it is that she has lost in losing me. But who will pity her? For when did she show any reverence for my counsels? Have I not in vain for Ruhethal propounded my  great political project for the  culture of ? nay my greater project for tobacco? Nay, my greatest of all—for the extirpation of ghosts? Has not the carried my lessons  to the very ends of Germany; and doubtless with  brilliant effect? But, as far as this Ruhethal is concerned, what has come of it? nothing: not a soul in the place pay any heed to : ghosts are as plenty as ever. But bitterlyterribly shall the Klatschhausen Gazetteer avenge me: and it shall now be shown what even small states  may attain when great men stand at their head!”

Here his soliloquy was not unpleasantly interrupted by the rattling of  the post-chaise which was to  bear him  to the scene of his future. The door was opened; the steps were let down; and the Recorder ascended the chaise with the air of a Roman Consul mounting his  triumphal car. But mortification pursued him to the last. With a magnificent air he said to the man with whom he had lodged—“that he should not forget him; that he should continue to extend his favor  and countenance to him; and might even find a time to write him a few lines.” Painful it was to observe the cool indifference of the brute,  who seemed as if he would have much preferred to  this vision of honors in revision—sixpence in hand, or (prose pudor!) a pint of ‘stout’.—On passing through the town-gate, the  guard shewed equal  levity of mind: “M. Gerstensaft, I think?” was the easy style of his interrogation. “M. GerstensalftGerstensaft [sic]” was the indignant reply: What? is all reverence for dignities extinct in this vicious town?