|
||||||||
shag rag and bob-tail, male and female, all together: and this leads me to the affair of Whiskersbut, by what chain of ideasI leave as a legacy in mort-main to Prudes and Tartufs, to enjoy and make the most of. Upon Whiskers. Im sorry I made ittwas as inconsiderate a promise as ever entered a mans headA chapter upon whiskers! alas! the world will not bear ittis a delicate worldbut I knew not of what mettle it was madenor had I ever seen the under-written fragment; otherwise, as surely as noses are noses, and whiskers are whiskers still (let the world say what it will to the contrary); so surely would I have steered clear of this dangerous chapter. The Fragment. . . .You are half asleep, my good lady, said the old gentleman, taking hold of the old ladys hand, and giving it a gentle squeeze, as he pronounced the word Whiskersshall we change the subject? By no means, replied the old ladyI like your account of those matters; so throwing a thin gauze handkerchief over her head, and leaning it back upon the chair with her face turned towards him, and advancing her two feet as she reclined herselfI desire, continued she, you will go on. The old gentleman went on as follows:Whiskers! cried the queen of Navarre, dropping her knotting ball, as La Fosseuse uttered the word Whiskers, madam, said La Fosseuse, pinning the ball to the queens apron, and making a courtesy as she repeated it. La Fosseuses voice was naturally soft and low, yet twas an articulate voice: and every letter of the word Whiskers fell distinctly upon the queen of Navarres earWhiskers! cried the queen, laying a greater stress upon the word, and as if she had still distrusted her earsWhiskers! replied La Fosseuse, repeating the word a third timeThere is not a cavalier, madam, of his age in Navarre, continued the maid of honour, pressing the pages interest upon the queen, that has so gallant a pairOf what? cried Margaret, smilingOf whiskers, said La Fosseuse, with infinite modesty. The word Whiskers still stood its ground, and continued to be made use of in most of the best companies throughout the little kingdom of Navarre, notwithstanding the indiscreet use which La Fosseuse had made of it: the truth was, La Fosseuse had pronounced the word, not only before the queen, but upon sundry other occasions at court, with an accent which always implied something of a mysteryAnd as the court of Margaret, as all the world knows, was at that time a mixture of gallantry and devotionand whiskers being as applicable to the one, as the other, the word naturally stood its groundit gained full as much as it lost; that is, the clergy were for itthe laity were against itand for the women,they were divided. The excellency of the figure and mien of the young Sieur De Croix, was at that time beginning to draw the attention of the maids of honour towards the terrace before the palace gate, where the guard was mounted. The lady De Baussiere fell deeply in love with him,La Battarelle did the sameit was the finest weather for it, that ever was remembered in NavarreLa Guyol, La Maronette, La Sabatiere, fell in love with the Sieur De Croix alsoLa Rebours and La Fosseuse knew betterDe Croix had failed in an attempt to recommend himself to La Rebours; and La Rebours and La Fosseuse were inseparable. The queen of Navarre was sitting with her ladies in the painted bow-window, facing the gate of the second court, as De Croix passed through itHe is handsome, said the Lady BaussiereHe has a good mien, said La Battarelle He is finely shaped, said La GuyolI never saw an officer of the horse- guards in my life, said La Maronette, with two such legsOr who stood so well upon them, said La SabatiereBut he has no whiskers, cried La FosseuseNot a pile, said La Rebours. |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||