an expense? for I
am told that you do not keep even a single footman, and that one of the
common runners in the streets lights you home with a stinking link."
"Madam," said he, "the Chevalier de Grammont hates pomp: my linkboy, of
whom you speak, is faithful to my service; and besides, he is one of
the bravest fellows in the world. Your Majesty is unacquainted with
the nation of link-boys: it is a charming one, I can assure you: a man
cannot step out in the night without being surrounded by a dozen of
them. The first time I became acquainted with them, I retained all that
offered me their services; so that when I arrived at Whitehall, I had at
least two hundred about my chair: the sight was new; for those who had
seenit to the disease incident to most coquettes, who, charmed
with superiority, put in practice every art to rob another of her
conquest, and spare nothing to preserve it.

But before we enter into the particulars of this adventure, let us
take a retrospect of the amours of his Royal Highness, prior to the
declaration of his marriage, and particularly of what immediately
preceded this declaration. It is allowable sometimes to drop the thread
of a narrative, when real facts, not generally known, give such a
variety upon the digression as to render it excusable: let us see then
how those things happened.

The Duke of York's marriage, with the chancellor's daughter, was
deficient in none of those circumstances which render contracts of this
nature valid in the eye of heaven the mutual inclination, the formal
ceremony, witnesses, and every essential