Commanding influence and interest

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

Sure indeed I confide that those in the Diplomatick have no such difficulties as I encounter in dealing with the orphanage ladies, that did they have armies to command would quite be about devastation.

Alas that 'twould not be in good ton to go knock their heads together.

I am sat a-sighing at my desk endeavouring to bring about concord among 'em, when Hector shows in Sandy, that I am extreme pleas’d to see.

Comes Celeste quite immediate with coffee and fresh hot muffins, along with some very excellent preserves that Euphemia put up over the summer.

And how, says I, does the bello scozzese do the morn?

Why, says he, I confide I have not spoke to the wisest of silly creatures since I had an invitation to the Contessa’s ridotto -

O, I cry, and do you go wear your picturesque native garb? -

- He looks at me somewhat Calvinistickal -

- O, says I, I confide you will go as John Knox -

Sure, he says with a smile, I was in some thoughts of going as a Covenanter, most particular since G- purposes to go as a Royalist Cavalier from the time of the Civil War. Or perchance as Burns. But the purpose of a masquerade is disguise. So I have spoke to Matt Johnson that will provide me with the means to present myself as a Bow Street Runner.

Sure, says I, I confide the hat will conceal your otherwise very distinctive Titian locks.

'Tis, I confide, well nigh impossible to give the dour Calvinistickal glare with a mouthful of muffin.

Must also, he says at length, contrive so that my domino will conceal my spectacles, for I can see very little without 'em.

But, he goes on, now we have dispos’d of this frivolity, I have of late come to a realization that I daresay, dear C-, you will laugh at quite immoderately and tell me, sure you knew that quite some while before.

I pour him some more coffee and say sure he should not attribute oracular powers to me.

Sure I know that I have become quite well-receiv’d within Society and that there are those that would offer me a place tomorrow did I give the sign, or accept my suit to the marriageable female relative that hangs upon their hands –

Indeed, my dear, I am most frequent oblig’d to quote your fine remarks concerning a man of spirit’s dislike to marrying for money or interest –

Dear C-, I am quite infinite oblig’d to you for doing so, for I am sure saves me a deal of embarrassment. But what I had not reckon’d with is that I am now consider’d to have a deal of influence and interest to prefer fellows to desirable places. I know not how the word got out, but among my scholastick connexion, the on-dit is that the post of Josh’s tutor in the classicks is quite entire within my disposal. And while 'tis only a visiting tutor post, the F-s are known generous, and 'twould be anyway a start for some fellow that at present scrapes what kind of living he can.

My dear, of course 'tis, they would most certain appoint any you spoke well of.

I am also askt, do I know any that go seek for a secretary or such-like.

Indeed, dear Sandy, I will confess that 'tis a most unsettling thing to discover not merely that there are those that suppose one has such powers – for indeed there were those that had a most entire exaggerat’d notion of the influence of a demimondaine such as Madame C- - but that one does, in truth, command certain powers. That one’s words are listen’d to.

'Twas only lately, I go on, I realiz’d that does a fellow behave insulting in company to Lady B-, 'twill come back upon him as manifesting poor ton. That 'tis not just my good old friends that will be about defending me, but that there will be others that will consider me wrong’d and go gossip adversely upon the other fellow and even cut him.

O, I continue, I must still tread somewhat carefull to avoid open scandal, but I now come to a realization that there are matters that many will wink at do they concern the well-left and influential Dowager Marchioness of B-.

Sandy tilts his head to one side, and smiles at me and says, sure 'tis that there are a deal more that have the opportunity to discover the virtues that the lady always had.

O, poo, says I, you flattering Scottish weasel. Unless you will go concede that 'tis quite a like matter with yourself.

We look at one another and I perceive he makes some efforts towards dour Calvinistickal glare, before he says, in a properly-regulat’d society 'twould be not be a matter of fortunate accident that your merits were perceiv’d.

O, says I, I may be a silly creature of no education, but sure I can imagine many ways in which society would be better-regulat’d.

We sigh.

But, he says, altho’ we may command some degree of influence we cannot altogether change the state of things, alas.

We sigh again. And then I say, sure, does Lady T- go invite me to a dinner party, do we not suppose that the state of things at least may change?

We laugh. Altho’, to tell truth, I do not feel dispos’d to mirth at the prospect of a dinner party at Lord T-'s, for, altho’ am I alone with Lady T- she will go unbend quite remarkable, she is still very stiff and formal in more general company. Also I am like to suppose that Lord K- will be of the party, and now that I am appriz’d that he is a patron of Mrs O’C- 'tis very hard not to speculate, will-I nil-I, upon the nature of his special pleasure.

But 'tis quite such an accolade to the entire respectability and excellent ton of Lady B- to be invit’d on such an occasion that I would not dare to refuse.

So I desire Docket to dress me in somewhat that will sustain my reputation for style but will also be suitably discreet.

And your sapphires, Your Ladyship?

Say you so? I was in some concern that perchance I should put on those jets, that I have not wore since I was out of mourning.

Docket purses up her mouth, and says that she confides that the sapphires will look very well and consider’d in excellent ton. She also brings me a most exceeding becoming cap.

Sure I am a vain creature, for I think that the reflexion I see in my fine pier glass looks very well indeed.

I am receiv’d with surprizing warmth at T- House; Lady T- tells me in a deal of detail about the very excellent engraver that goes make plates for her fine volume on lace-making. I am introduc’d to her son Lord K-, that I have not previous met, a somewhat gloomy fellow that is given out devot’d to the memory of his late wife. Lord and Lady T- I apprehend are exceeding anxious for him to remarry and be about the business of begetting heirs, for he is their only child. (I confide, from things that Lady T- has let drop in conversation, that he is the only one of some several infants she bore that surviv’d; a very sad thing.)

He shakes my hand and makes agreeable, and is to take me in to dinner. While I daresay this is quite in accordance with the rules of precedence, I also find it somewhat particular and am in some concern that I am lookt upon as a hopefull prospect for his second wife. Or perchance 'tis only so that I may get to know him and go advance his interest among marriageable ladies.

So he takes me in to dinner, and sits next to me, and is not the most conversable of fellows. I remark that I hear he spent the summer in Margate taking the sea-waters? I hear it well spoken of –

He goes expatiate in detail perchance not best suit’d to a dinner-table of the regimen he was under, and the virtues of sea-water for his particular constitution.

I go on to say that my great friends the N-s – Mr N-, of the Home Office, and his wife? – greatly like Margate and spent a deal of time there over the summer.

Oh yes, he says, Mr N-, a fine well-inform’d fellow, very knowledgeable. Excellent company.

I try not to look as tho’ he has gone grow a secondary head, for I know not any that would consider Mr N-, that is perchance the most tedious fellow in Town, tho’ has a very kindly nature, as excellent company.

'Tis somewhat of a relief to turn to the fellow that is on my other side.

When Lady T- withdraws the ladies to leave the gentlemen to port, tobacco, and bawdy talk – tho’ I daresay there will not be a deal of the latter – she shows me the greatest favour in the drawing-room, desiring me to hand the tea-cups for her &C.

Indeed the gentlemen do not greatly linger and join us very shortly.

Lord T- comes up to me and says that he is in some mind to appoint a politickal secretary. Mr W-, that has been his secretary these many years is apt enough for all usual business, but now he goes take a more active part in politicks, he would find a young fellow with a fine understanding of such matters, like unto Mr MacD-, most extreme usefull.

Why, says I, I confide that Mr MacD- has a considerable acquaintance among such fellows: I am sure he would be entire delight’d to assist Your Lordship’s quest.

I add that I collect that we had some discourse of wombatts: young Josh F-'s menagerie at R- House now contains a fine young wombatt, the scion of Sir Z- R-'s darling.

Lord T- says he must most certain endeavour to see the creature. He also asks after the T-s and their fine work with the convicts and their scientifick researches, and I say alas, would that the natural philosophers that make so many fine and usefull discoveries go find some more expeditious means of communicating with the antipodes.

Comments

[kore]

O, poo, says I, you flattering Scottish weasel. Unless you will go concede that 'tis quite a like matter with yourself.

We look at one another and I perceive he makes some efforts towards dour Calvinistickal glare, before he says, in a properly-regulat’d society 'twould be not be a matter of fortunate accident that your merits were perceiv’d.

O, says I, I may be a silly creature of no education, but sure I can imagine many ways in which society would be better-regulat’d.

We sigh.

But, he says, altho’ we may command some degree of influence we cannot altogether change the state of things, alas.

We sigh again.


Aww. I would like to see the world those two would make.

[violsva]

Oh, seeing Madame and Sandy together always makes me so happy.