Page:Vanity Fair 1848.djvu/73

Rh The dear creature has received it from the hands of her femme de chambre, Mademoiselle Anastasie. Dear Marquis! what amiable politeness! His lordship's note contains the wished-for invitation to Devonshire House!

"Who is that monstrous fine girl," said the Semillant Prince G—rge of C—mbr—dge, at a mansion in Piccadilly the same evening (having just arrived from the omnibus at the opera.) "My dear Sedley, in the name of all the Cupids, introduce me to her!"

"Her name, Monseigneur," said Lord Joseph, bowing gravely, "is Sedley."

"Vous avez alors un bien beau nom," said the young Prince, turning on his heel rather disappointed, and treading on the foot of an old gentleman who stood behind, in deep admiration of the beautiful Lady Amelia.

"Trent emille tonnerres!" shouted the victim, writhing under the agonie du moment.

"I beg a thousand pardons of your Grace," said the young étourdi, blushing, and bending low his fair curls. He had trodden on the toe of the great Captain of the age!

"Oh, Devonshire!" cried the young Prince, to a tall and good-natured nobleman, whose features proclaimed him of the blood of the Cavendishes. "A word with you! Have you still a mind to part with your diamond necklace?"

"I have sold it for two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, to Prince Easterhazy here."

"Und das war gar nicht theuer, potztausend!" exclaimed the princely Hungarian, &c., &c., &c..........

Thus you see, ladies, how this story might have been written, if the author had but a mind; for, to tell the truth, he is just as familiar with Newgate as with the palaces of our revered aristocracy, and has seen the outside of both. But as I don't understand the language or manners of the Rookery, nor that polyglot conversation which, according to the fashionable novelists, is spoken by the leaders of ton; we must, if you please, preserve our middle course modestly, amidst those scenes and personages