And yet that great man was,like all the truly great--affable.
He put aside his coat and waistcoat (both of evening cut,and looking prematurely splendid as he walked the streets in noonday),and did not disdain to rub the glasses and polish the decanters,and to show young Buttons the proper mode of preparing these articles for a dinner.And while he operated,the maids,and Buttons,and cook,when she could--and what had she but the vegetables to boil?--crowded round him,and listened with wonder as he talked of the great families as he had lived with.That man,as they saw him there before them,had been cab-boy to Lord Tantallan,valet to the Earl of Bareacres,and groom of the chambers to the Duchess Dowager of Fitzbattleaxe.Oh,it was delightful to hear Mr.Truncheon!