They  deserve  her  most  who  value  her  least.'

'Have  you  any  patrons  at  Ems,  Essper,  that  have
induced  you  to  fix  on  this  place  in  particular  for  your
speculations  ?  Here,  I  should  think,  you  have  many

(309)


3io  BENJAMIN    DISRAELI

active  rivals,'  said  Vivian,  looking  round  the  various
stalls.
'I  have  a  patron  here  who  has  never  deceived,
and  who  will  never  desert  me;  I  want  no  other;  and
that's  myself.  Now  here  comes  a  party:  could  you
just  tell  me  the  name  of  that  tall  lady  now?'

'If  I  tell  you  it  is  Lady  Madeleine  Trevor,  what
will  it  profit  you?'

Before  Vivian  could  well  finish  his  sentence  Essper
had  drawn  out  a  long  horn  from  beneath  his  small
counter,  and  sounded  a  blast  which  echoed  through
the  arched  passages.  The  attention  of  every  one  was
excited,  and  no  part  of  the  following  speech  was  lost:  —

'The  celebrated  Essper  George,  fresh  from  Fairy-
land, dealer  in  pomatum  and  all  sorts  of  perfumery,
watches,  crosses,  Ems  crystal,  coloured  prints,  Dutch
toys,  Dresden  china,  Venetian  chains,  Neapolitan
coral,  French  crackers,  chamois  bracelets,  tame  poo-
dles, and  Cherokee  corkscrews,  mender  of  mandolins
and  all  other  musical  instruments,  to  Lady  Madeleine
Trevor,  has  just  arrived  at  Ems,  where  he  only  intends
to  stay  two  or  three  days,  and  a  few  more  weeks  be-
sides. Now,  gracious  lady,  what  do  you  wish?'

'And  who,'  said  Lady  Madeleine,  smiling,  'is  this?'

'The  celebrated  Essper  George,  just  '  again

commenced  the  conjuror;  but  Vivian  prevented  the
repetition.
