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"Seneschal, I pray you, postpone these stories until later; this

diet is a curious thing, to be sure, but we are hungry; pray,

sir, have them bring in the dinner."

Bending down his wand to the floor, the Seneschal replied:-

"Your Excellency, pray grant me this indulgence; I will speedily

finish with the last scene of the district diets. Here is the new

Marshal, borne out of the refectory on the shoulders of his

partisans; see how the brother gentlemen are throwing up their

caps and standing with open mouths-vivats! But there on the other

side lingers the outvoted candidate, all alone, with his cap

pulled down over his gloomy brow; his wife is waiting in front of

her house, and has guessed what is going on. Poor woman, now she

is fainting in the arms of her maid! Poor woman, she was to have

received the title of Right Honourable, but now she is left just

Honourable for three more years!"