That your Grace is thereby doing a duty to your country no man who understands the country can doubt.

But it must be the case that the country at large should interest itself in your festivities, and should demand to have accounts of the gala doings of your ducal palace.

Your Grace will probably agree with me that these records could be better given by one empowered by yourself to give them, by one who had been present, and who would write in your Grace's interest, than by some interloper who would receive his tale only at second hand.
It is my purport now to inform your Grace that should I be honoured by an invitation to your Grace's party at Gatherum, I should obey such a call with the greatest alacrity, and would devote my pen and the public organ which is at my disposal to your Grace's service with the readiest good-will.
I have the honour to be, My Lord Duke, Your Grace's most obedient And very humble servant, QUINTUS SLIDE.
The old Duke, when he had read the letter, laughed heartily.

"Isn't that a terribly bad sign of the times ?" said the younger.
"Well;--hardly that, I think.

The man is both a fool and a blackguard; but I don't think we are therefore to suppose that there are many fools and blackguards like him.