[Illustration: _The company was sipping, not without many wry faces, their anti-saccharine tea._] Mr. Feathernest was a little nettled on being told that he was to be the _King’s Rook_, but smoothed his wrinkled brow on being assured that no _mauvaise plaisanterie_ was intended. The Kings were accordingly crowned, and attired in regal robes. The Reverend Mr. Portpipe and his three brother Bishops were arrayed in full canonicals. The Knights were equipped in their white and black armour, with sword, and dazzling helm, and nodding crest. The Rooks were enveloped in a sort of mural robe, with a headpiece formed on the model of that which occurs in the ancient figures of Cybele; and thus attired they bore a very striking resemblance to the walking wall in Pyramus and Thisbe. The Kings now led the way to the ballroom, and the two beautiful Queens, Miss Danaretta Contantina Pinmoney and Miss Celandina Paperstamp, each with eight beautiful nymphs, arrayed for the mimic field in light Amazonian dresses, white and black, did such instant execution among the hearts of the young gentlemen present, that they might be said to have ‘fought and conquered ere a sword was drawn.’ They now proceeded to their stations on their respective squares: but before we describe their manœuvres we will recapitulate the TRIPUDII PERSONAE WHITE _King_ MR. HIPPY. _Queen_ MISS DANARETTA CONTANTINA PINMONEY. _King’s Bishop_ THE REVEREND MR. PORTPIPE. _Queen’s Bishop_ SIR GREGORY GREENMOULD. _King’s Knight_ MR. O’SCARUM. _Queen’s Knight_ SIR TELEGRAPH PAXARETT. _King’s Rook_ MR. FEATHERNEST. _Queen’s Rook_ MR. PAPERSTAMP. _Eight Nymphs._ BLACK _King_ MAJOR O’DOGSKIN. _Queen_ MISS CELANDINA PAPERSTAMP. _King’s Bishop_ SQUIRE HERMITAGE. _Queen’s Bishop_ SQUIRE HEELTAP. _King’s Knight_ MR. SARCASTIC. _Queen’s Knight_ MR. DERRYDOWN. _King’s Rook_ MR. KILLTHEDEAD. _Queen’s Rook_ MR. VAMP. _Eight Nymphs._