This man also he left
behind him in an ante-room,--where three or four pages in the royal
livery, but untrussed, unbuttoned, and dressed more carelessly than
the place, and nearness to a king's person, seemed to admit, were
playing at dice and draughts, or stretched upon benches, and
slumbering with half-shut eyes. A corresponding gallery, which opened
from the ante-room, was occupied by two gentlemen-ushers of the
chamber, who gave each a smile of recognition as the wealthy goldsmith
entered.
No word was spoken on either side; but one of the ushers looked first
to Heriot, and then to a little door half-covered by the tapestry,
which seemed to say, as plain as a look could, "Lies your business
that way?" The citizen nodded; and the court-attendant, moving on
tiptoe, and with as much caution as if the floor had been paved with
eggs, advanced to the door, opened it gently, and spoke a few words in
a low tone. The broad Scottish accent of King James was heard in
reply,--"Admit him instanter, Maxwell. Have you hairboured sae lang at
the Court, and not learned, that gold and silver are ever welcome?"
The usher signed to Heriot to advance, and the honest citizen was
presently introduced into the cabinet of the Sovereign.
The scene of confusion amid which he found the king seated, was no bad
picture of the state and quality of James's own mind. There was much
that was rich and costly in cabinet pictures and valuable ornaments;
but they were arranged in a slovenly manner, covered with dust, and
lost half their value, or at least their effect, from the manner in
which they were presented to the eye.
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