Old Matthews, the most comic of all modern comic raconteurs, when in this country used to relate the following illustration of the manner in which the cool assumption of a "flunkey" was rebuked by an eccentric English original, one Lord Eardley, whose especial antipathy was, to have his servants of the class called "fine gentlemen:"
"During breakfast one day, Lord Eardley was informed that a person had applied for a footman's place, then vacant. He was ordered into the room, and a double refined specimen of the genus so detested by his lordship made his appearance. The manner of the man was extremely affected and consequential, and it was evident that my lord understood him at a glance; moreover, it was as evident he determined to lower him a little.
"'Well, my good fellow,' said he, 'you want a lackey's place, do you?'
"'I came about an upper footman's situation, my lord,' said the gentleman, bridling up his head.
"'Oh, do ye, do ye?' replied Lord Eardley; 'I keep no upper servants; all alike, all alike here.'
"'Indeed, my lord!' exclaimed this upper footman, with an air of shocked dignity. 'What department then am I to consider myself expected to fill?'
"'Department! department!' quoth my lord, in a tone like inquiry.
"'In what capacity, my lord?'
"My lord repeated the word capacity, as if not understanding its application to the present subject.
"'I mean, my lord,' explained the man, 'what shall I be expected to do, if I take the situation?'