"Take your hat off, prince," said I.
"I never take it off, nor behave differently to the first duchess in the land! It is my way. I cannot alter it. I am too old to mend. I saw two of the most lovely sisters, walking with their mothers to-day. They would not measure round the waist more than so much"—describing to me the circumference with his hands. "I watched them home, to No.— in ----Street. Do pray contrive to get acquainted with them."
"You had better leave my house," said I, beginning to be truly disgusted at the very honourable employment which this princely representative of Imperial dignity, morality, disinterestedness, and humanity wished to force upon me.
"At all events, take off your hat, prince, and let me see the fire!"
"I tell you I will do no such thing," asseverated the prince, with the dignified positiveness of his own imperial master.
"Ou ôtes ton chapeau, monsieur le prince, ou va-t-en au diable! comme je t'ai dis auparavant," said I, in a passion.
"Je prendrai le dernier parti," said the prince, leaving the room.
"Et tant mieux," I observed to him, as he went downstairs.