A Valet who Knew his Business.

Otago Witness, Issue 1585, 8 April 1882, Page 28

A Valet who Knew his Business.

Lord Stratford de Redcliffe'a feeling of loyalty was as profound as that of a sincere believer, in divine right- must always be. Every member of the Royal family was to him and object of unbounded deference. When the Duke of Cambridge was about to become his guest for a few days at the Embassy he went in his dressing-gown and slippers, at an early hour in the morning, to see that the rooms prepared for his Koyal Highness were in perfect order. Finding the Duke's valet arranging the trunks and portmanteaus which had arrived, the Ambassador began to give directions how they should be placed. The man left off working and stared at Lord Stratford. ' I will tell you what it is,' he said at last. ' I know how his Royal Highness likes to have his things arranged better than you do. So you just up— and be off, will you, old feller ?' Lord Stratford left the room in a towering passion, and, calling one of the attaches, ordered him to go and toll that man whom it was that he had ventured to address such language to. The attache soon returned with sparkling eyes. • Well, what did you say to him ?' asked the Ambassador.

' I said to him, my lord, that the person to whom ho had ventured to address such language was her Majesty's representative in Turkey.' 'Ah, quite right. And what was his answer ?'

' He answered,' my lord, 'that he never said you warn't.' It was a singular feature in Lord Stratford's somewhat hasty disposition that his anger would suddenly be appeased by anything which seemed to him ludicrous. It was so in this case, and he enjoyed a hearty laugh with the attache.