“Let the coachman draw off,” said the Duke, “but be in readiness. And send to the gentlemen thou wilt find named in this list; say I am but ill at ease, and wish their company to a light collation. Let instant expedition be made, and care not for expense; you will find most of them at the Club House in Fuller’s Rents.” [*]
[*] The place of meeting of the Green Ribbon Club. “Their place of
meeting,” says Roger North, “was in a sort of Carrefour at
Chancery Lance, in a centre of business and company most proper
for such anglers of fools. The house was double balconied in
front, as may yet be seen, for the clubbers to issue forth in
fresco, with hats and no perukes, pipes in their mouths, merry
faces, and dilated throats for vocal encouragement of the
canaglia below on usual and unusual occasions.”
The preparations for festivity were speedily made, and the intended guests, most of them persons who were at leisure for any call that promised pleasure, though sometimes more deaf to those of duty, began speedily to assemble. There were many youths of the highest rank, and with them, as is usual in those circles, many of a different class, whom talents, or impudence, or wit, or a turn for gambling, had reared up into companions for the great and the gay. The Duke of Buckingham was a general patron of persons of this description; and a numerous attendance took place on the present occasion.
The festivity was pursued with the usual appliances of wine, music, and games of hazard; with which, however, there mingled in that period much more wit, and a good deal more gross profligacy of conversation, than the talents of the present generation can supply, or their taste would permit.
The Duke himself proved the complete command which he possessed over his versatile character, by maintaining the frolic, the laugh, and the jest, while his ear caught up, and with eagerness, the most distant sounds, as intimating the commencement of Christian’s revolutionary project. Such sounds were heard from time to time, and from time to time they died away, without any of those consequences which Buckingham expected.
At length, and when it was late in the evening, Jerningham announced Master Chiffinch from the Court; and that worthy personage followed the annunciation.
“Strange things have happened, my Lord Duke,” he said; “your presence at Court is instantly required by his Majesty.”
“You alarm me,” said Buckingham, standing up. “I hope nothing has happened—I hope there is nothing wrong—I hope his Majesty is well?”
“Perfectly well,” said Chiffinch; “and desirous to see your Grace without a moment’s delay.”
“This is sudden,” said the Duke. “You see I have had merry fellows about me, and am scarce in case to appear, Chiffinch.”