On joining Billings, his
Excellency's first step was naturally to examine the lady. After
they had been sitting for a while over their punch, he bethought him
of his original purpose, and began to address a number of moral
remarks to his son.
We have already given some specimens of Monsieur de Galgenstein's
sober conversation; and it is hardly necessary to trouble the reader
with any further reports of his speeches. They were intolerably
stupid and dull; as egotistical as his morning lecture had been, and
a hundred times more rambling and prosy. If Cat had been in the
possession of her sober senses, she would have seen in five minutes
that her ancient lover was a ninny, and have left him with scorn;
but she was under the charm of old recollections, and the sound of
that silly voice was to her magical. As for Mr. Billings, he
allowed his Excellency to continue his prattle; only frowning,
yawning, cursing occasionally, but drinking continually.
So the Count descanted at length upon the enormity of young
Billings's early liaisons; and then he told his own, in the year
four, with a burgomaster's daughter at Ratisbon, when he was in the
Elector of Bavaria's service--then, after Blenheim, when he had come
over to the Duke of Marlborough, when a physician's wife at Bonn
poisoned herself for him, etc.
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