His Grace of Kingston put up at
the 'Red Lion' in all innocence until his worship, for old friendship's
sake and a bottle of brandy, 'ticed 'im over 'ere to one of my puddin's.
'E started an inch off the table and ate till 'e touched, as we say in
Staffordsheer, and then sent for 'is baggage, and 'as lain 'ere ever since
in the great bedchamber over y'r yeds, an' I'm thinking to call it the
Duke's Room an' charge sixpence extra for it. It's worth another sixpence
to sleep in the same bed as a duke's slep' in. If it ain't, by gom, I'd
like to know what he is for. Damn if y'r can tell by lukkin' at 'im."
What I have for convenience' sake set down here as a continuous speech
addressed to us all, was really a series of remarks addressed to whichever
of us appeared for the moment to be listening, and broken by commands,
scoldings, and threats addressed to the women. The tail-end of his remarks
made me cock my ear, for it indicated that we were at the centre of the
danger zone.
"If I were you," interposed Master Freake at last, "I'd coax Prince
Charlie to sleep in it and then charge a shilling extra.
Pages:
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215