The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 4, April, 1852Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 4, April, 1852
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
"Go, then, Giacomo; but take Pompey with thee--and give the alarm if we
are deceived."
But Violante was right; and in a few moments Lord L'Estrange was seen
walking up the garden, and giving the arm to two ladies.
"Ah," said Riccabocca, composing his dressing-robe round him, "go, my
child, and summon Jemima. Man to man; but, for Heaven's sake, woman to
woman."
Harley had brought his mother and Helen, in compliment to the ladies of
his friend's household.
The proud Countess knew that she was in the presence of Adversity, and
her salute to Riccabocca was only less respectful than that with which
she would have rendered homage to her sovereign. But Riccabocca, always
gallant to the sex that he pretended to despise, was not to be outdone
in ceremony; and the bow which replied to the curtsey would have edified
the rising generation, and delighted such surviving relicts of the old
Court breeding as may linger yet amidst the gloomy pomp of the Faubourg
St. Germain. These dues paid to etiquette, the Countess briefly
introduced Helen, as Miss Digby, and seated herself near the exile. In a
few moments the two elder personages became quite at home with each
other; and really, perhaps, Riccabocca had never, since we have known
him, showed to such advantage as by the side of his polished, but
somewhat formal visitor. Both had lived so little with our modern,
ill-bred age! They took out their manners of a former race with a sort
of pride in airing once more such fine lace and superb brocade.
Riccabocca gave truce to the shrewd but homely wisdom of his
proverbs--perhaps he remembered that Lord Chesterfield denounces
proverbs as vulgar;--and gaunt though his figure, and far from elegant
though his dressing-robe, there was that about him which spoke
undeniably of the _grand seigneur_--of one to whom a Marquis de Dangeau
would have offered a _fauteuil_ by the side of the Rohans and
Montmorencies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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