The Equinox (Volume I, Number IV)

MR. TODD one never knows whether you are serious or not! But you wouldn’t make fun of my embarrassments—Society is so serious, isn’t it? But, oh do! do tell me what they say| carR. Well, Mrs. Ossory—you know our mysterious friend ? MRS. ossory. Mr. Todd? carr. Yes. Well, they say that—he is a King in his own country. MRS. ossory. And I’ve always disliked and distrusted him so! But perhaps that was just the natural awe that I suppose one must always feel, even when one doesn’t know, you know. I wonder, now, if we could get him to a little dinner. One could always pretend one didn’t know who he was! Let me see, now! Caviar de sterlet royale carr. Consommé royale, sole 4 la royale, timbale royale a l'empereur, bouchées 4 la reine, asperges a la royale, haunch of royal venison—can’t insult him with mere baron of beef —pouding royale, glace 4 l’impératrice, canapé royale—you'll be able to feed him all right! mrs. ossory. How clever you are, Professor! Thank you so much. Now who should we ask to meet him? carr. I rather expect you'll have to meet him a/one/ mrs. ossory. 7é¢e-d-téte/ But would that be quite Aroper, Professor? carr. How very English!—all you English think that. But—royalty has its own etiquette. [Enter CHARLEY. Come along, Charley boy, and show me how the new engine works! 23k