"Gentlemen, pray explain yourselves," said the Blackamoor.
"Well—I say that you are a lacquey out of place," observed Sir Phillip Warren.
"And I say that you are not," cried Sir Randolph Harral, in his turn; "whereupon we have bet twenty guineas."
"And you must decide who has won," added Sir Phillip.
"Then, gentlemen," said the Blackamoor, in a merry tone, "I can soon set the matter at rest. So far from being a lacquey out of place, I have upwards of a dozen dependants of my own. I wish you a very good night."
"Why—I am robbed as if it were on the highway!" exclaimed Sir Phillip Warren, his countenance suddenly becoming as awful and blank as such a Port-wine visage could possibly be.
"Ha! ha!" chuckled Sir Randolph: "robbed or not—please to hand me over twenty good guineas."
And the cachinnation of the winning courtier was echoed by the merry laugh of the Blackamoor, as this individual issued forth from Carlton House.
Again, as he passed along Pall Mall, did the Black pause for a few moments opposite the splendid mansion of the Earl of Ellingham, and gaze at it with the attention of no common observer. He was about to continue his way, when two men, belonging to the working class, stopped likewise for an instant in front of the house; and one said to the other, "That is where the Earl lives. God bless him!"
"Yes—God bless him!" repeated his companion, with the emphasis of unfeigned sincerity: "for he is the people's friend."