government was inherently distasteful to him. But the Prince saw in the
wizened little figure before him an obvious butt for his friend Blakeney's
impertinent shafts, and although historians have been unable to assert
positively whether or no George Prince of Wales knew aught of Sir
Percy's dual life, yet there is no doubt that he was always ready to enjoy a
situation which brought about the discomfiture of any of the Scarlet
Pimpernel's avowed enemies.

"I, too, have not met M. Chauvelin for many a long month," said His
Royal Highness with an obvious show of irony. "And I mistake not, sir,
you left my father's court somewhat abruptly last year."

"Nay, your Royal Highness," said Percy gaily, "my friend Monsieur ... er
... Chaubertin and I had serious business to discuss, which could only be
dealt with in France. ... Am I not right, Monsieur?"

"Quite right, Sir Percy," replied Chauvelin curtly.

"We had to discuss abominable soup in Calais, had we not?" continued
Blakeney in the same tone of easy banter, "and wine that I vowed was
vinegar. Monsieur ... er ... Chaubertin ... no, no, I beg pardon ...
Chauvelin ... Monsieur Chauvelin and I quite agreed upon that point.
The only matter on which we were not quite at one was the question of
snuff."

"Snuff?" laughed His Royal Highness, who seemed vastly amused.

"Yes, your Royal Highness ... snuff ... Monsieur Chauvelin here had--if I
may be allowed to say so--so vitiated a taste in snuff that he prefers it
with an admixture of pepper ... Is that not so, Monsieur ... er ...