"What's to do?" shouted the Duke, hearing the signals of female distress.Seven of his people with a zealous start went headlong and told him.He laughed and said, "Give her of the beef-stuffing, then, and bring me Sir Boar." Benevolent monarch! The beef-stuffing was his own private dish.On these grand occasions an ox was roasted whole, and reserved for the poor.But this wise as well as charitable prince had discovered, that whatever venison, bares, lamb, poultry, etc., you skewered into that beef cavern, got cooked to perfection, retaining their own juices and receiving those of the reeking ox.These he called his beef-stuffing, and took delight therein, as did now our trio; for, at his word, seven of his people went headlong, and drove silver tridents into the steaming cave at random, and speared a kid, a cygnet, and a flock of wildfowl.These presently smoked before Gerard and company; and Peter's face, sad and slightly morose at the loss of the savage hog, expanded and shone.After this, twenty different tarts of fruits and herbs, and last of all, confectionery on a Titanic scale; cathedrals of sugar, all gilt painted in the interstices of the bas-reliefs; castles with moats, and ditches imitated to the life; elephants, camels, toads;knights on horseback jousting; kings and princesses looking on trumpeters blowing; and all these personages eating, and their veins filled with sweet-scented juices: works of art made to be destroyed.The guests breached a bastion, crunched a crusader and his horse and lance, or cracked a bishop, cope, chasuble, crosier and all, as remorselessly as we do a caraway comfit; sipping meanwhile hippocras and other spiced drinks, and Greek and Corsican wines, while every now and then little Turkish boys, turbaned, spangled, jewelled, and gilt, came offering on bended knee golden troughs of rose-water and orange-water to keep the guests' hands cool and perfumed.
But long before our party arrived at this final stage appetite had succumbed, and Gerard had suddenly remembered he was the bearer of a letter to the Princess Marie, and, in an under-tone, had asked one of the servants if he would undertake to deliver it.The man took it with a deep obeisance: "He could not deliver it himself, but would instantly give it one of the Princess's suite, several of whom were about."It may be remembered that Peter and Margaret came here not to dine, but to find their cousin.Well, the old gentleman ate heartily, and - being much fatigued, dropped asleep, and forgot all about his cousin.Margaret did not remind him; we shall hear why.
Meanwhile, that Cousin was seated within a few feet of them, at their backs, and discovered them when Margaret turned round and screamed at the boar.But he forbore to speak to them, for municipal reasons.Margaret was very plainly dressed, and Peter inclined to threadbare.So the alderman said to himself:
"'Twill be time to make up to them when the sun sets and the company disperses then I will take my poor relations to my house, and none will be the wiser."Half the courses were lost on Gerard and Margaret.They were no great eaters, and just now were feeding on sweet thoughts that have ever been unfavourable to appetite.But there is a delicate kind of sensuality, to whose influence these two were perhaps more sensitive than any other pair in that assembly - the delights of colour, music, and perfume, all of which blended so fascinatingly here.
Margaret leaned back and half closed her eyes, and murmured to Gerard: "What a lovely scene! the warm sun, the green shade, the rich dresses, the bright music of the lutes and the cool music of the fountain, and all faces so happy and gay! and then, it is to you we owe it."Gerard was silent all but his eyes; observing which -"Now, speak not to me," said Margaret languidly; "let me listen to the fountain: what are you a competitor for?"He told her.
"Very well! You will gain one prize, at least.""Which? which? have you seen any of my work?""I? no.But you will gain a prize.
"I hope so; but what makes you think so?""Because you were so good to my father."
Gerard smiled at the feminine logic, and hung his head at the sweet praise, and was silent.