In the meantime, the trio occupied a nook of the ante-room, next to
the door of the presence-chamber, which was not yet thrown open, when
Maxwell, with his rod of office, came bustling into the apartment,
where most men, excepting those of high rank, made way for him. He
stopped beside the party in which we are interested, looked for a
moment at the young Scots nobleman, then made a slight obeisance to
Heriot, and lastly, addressing Sir Mungo Malagrowther, began a hurried
complaint to him of the misbehaviour of the gentlemen-pensioners and
warders, who suffered all sort of citizens, suitors, and scriveners,
to sneak into the outer apartments, without either respect or
decency.--"The English," he said, "were scandalised, for such a thing
durst not be attempted in the queen's days. In her time, there was
then the court-yard for the mobility, and the apartments for the
nobility; and it reflects on your place, Sir Mungo," he added,
"belonging to the household as you do, that such things should not be
better ordered."
Here Sir Mungo, afflicted, as was frequently the case on such
occasions, with one of his usual fits of deafness, answered, "It was
no wonder the mobility used freedoms, when those whom they saw in
office were so little better in blood and havings than themselves."
"You are right, sir--quite right," said Maxwell, putting his hand on
the tarnished embroidery on the old knight's sleeve,--"when such
fellows see men in office dressed in cast-off suits, like paltry
stage-players, it is no wonder the Court is thronged with intruders.
Pages:
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205