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