A GENTLEMAN’S GENTLEMAN.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1128, 21 December 1883, Page 2

A GENTLEMAN’S GENTLEMAN.

The following anecdote is told of the eccentric Lord Redesdale. Early one morning he made his way to the mansion of the Earl of Lucan. Ho was dressed in sporting garb, for he was going to attend a race-meeting, his bat was on awry, and a cigar, was between his lips. He rang at the front door, and the earl’s best man —an exquisite of the first water—answered the summons. “Is the Earl at home 1” “No, sir! The Earl is not at ’omo.” He mistook the caller for a sporting servant, very, likely seeking employment. “Do you know if he has gone to Windsor, my man ?” “ No—l don’t know hif.'.’e ’as gone to Windsor. But I’ll tell you what Ido know. Eou’d be,a doin’ of yerself a wast deal 6’ credit hif you’d honly just run around to the sign o’ the Bell and Crown, hand fetch me a pot of ’alf-an’-’alf. “All right ; where’s .your money ?” “ Wy, bless you, I don’t find money for them as 1 has to hanswer the bell for! ’Aven’t you got a sixpenny-bit of yer own ?” “I guess I can find one.” And away his lordship went, really enjoying Ihe business, and shortly returned' with a tankard of foaming half and-half. The valet drank it with a keen relish, emptying the pot, and then offered to return it* with —“ There, my good fellow, I’m much.:-; —” But the visitor put the pot back, and cut the speech short, with, “Return the tankard yourself, my man ; and,,, when yonr master returns, be kind , T enougir to tell him that Lord Redesdale called.” His lordship left the dazed and confounded valet supporting himself against the do.orpost, the pewter-pot fallen to the floor,' bis face the picture of hoi ror, looking for-all the world like one who wished he had never been born !