The First Week in Calais

249

The rooms he eventually fixed upon were in the house of M. Leleux, a bookseller, where he remained until September 1830, and being quite unable to realise the necessity for strict economy, he furnished them luxuriously, indulging his taste for buhl and sending a courier to Paris to seek out costly elegancies.

On May 22nd he wrote the following letter to Thomas Raikes :

"Here I am restant for the present, and God knows solitary enough is my existence; of that, however, I should not complain, for I can always employ resources within myself, was there not a worm that will not sleep called conscience, which all my endeavours to distract, all the strength of coffee, with which I constantly fumigate my unhappy brains, and all the native gaiety of the fellow who bears it to me, cannot lull to indifference beyond the moment; but I will not trouble you upon that subject. You would be surprised to find the sudden change and transfiguration which one week has accomplished in my way of life and propriâ personâ. I am punctually off the pillow at half-past seven in the morning. My first object-melancholy indeed it may be in its nature-is to walk to the pier-head, and take my distant look at England. This you may call weakness, but I am not yet sufficiently master of those feelings which may be called indigenous to resist the impulse. The rest of my day is filled up with strolling an hour or two round the ramparts of this dismal town, in reading, and the study of that language which must hereafter be my own, for never more shall I set foot in my own country. I dine at five, and my evening has as yet been occupied in writing letters.

"The English I have seen here-and many of them know me I have cautiously avoided; and with the

So

exception of Sir W. Bellingham and Lord Blessington, who have departed, I have not exchanged a word. Prince Esterhazy was here yesterday, and came into my room unexpectedly, without my knowing he was arrived. He had the good nature to convey several letters for me upon his return to London. much for my life hitherto on this side of the water. As to the alteration in my looks, you will laugh when I tell you your own head of hair is but a scanty possession in comparison with that which now crowns my pristine baldness "-Brummell was already getting bald-" a convenient, comely scalp, that has divested me of my former respectability of appearance (for what right have I now to such an outward sign?); and if the care and distress of mind which I have lately undergone had not impressed more ravages haggard and lean than my years might justify upon my unfortunate phiz, I should certainly pass at a little distance for fiveand-twenty. And so, let me whisper to you, seems to think Madame la Baronne de Borno, the wife of a Russian officer who is now in England, and in his absence resident in this house. Approving and inviting are her frequent smiles as she looks into my window from the gardenwalk but I have neither spirits nor inclination to improve such flattering overtures.'

A few days after Brummell's flight his possessions were sold on the premises, including probably the portrait which forms our frontispiece. A copy of the title-page of the book of sale is given on the opposite page.

Among the things put up was a very handsome snuff-box which was found to contain a piece of paper upon which was written in Brummell's handwriting : "This snuff-box was intended for the Prince Regent, if he had conducted himself with more propriety towards me."

Specimens of the rare old Sèvres Porcelaine,
Articles of Buhl Manufacture
Curiously chased plate
Library of Books

Chiefly of French, Italian and English Literature, the best
Editions and in fine condition

The admired drawings of the Refractory School Boy, and others
exquisitely finished by Holmes, Christall, de Windt
and Stephanoff

Three capital double-barrelled Fowling Pieces
By Manton

Ten dozen of capital Old Port, 16 dozen of Claret (Beauvais)
Burgundy, Claret, and Still Champagne

The whole of which have been nine years in bottle in the
Cellar of the Proprietor;
Also an

Assortment of Table and other Linen, and some articles of neat Furniture

The genuine property of

A MAN OF FASHION

Gone to the continent
Which

By order of the Sheriff of Middlesex !
Will be sold by auction

BY MR. CHRISTIE

On the premises, No. 13, Chapel Street, Park Lane
On Wednesday, May 22nd, and following Day.

CHAPTER XV

On Wednesday he was very affectionate with that wretched Brummell, and on Thursday forgot him; cheated him even out of a snuff-box which he owed the poor dandy; saw him years afterwards in his downfall and poverty, when the bankrupt Beau sent him another snuff-box with some of the snuff he used to love, as a piteous token of remembrance and submission, and the King took the snuff, and ordered his horses and drove on, and had not the grace to notice his old companion, favourite, rival, enemy, superior.

THACKERAY, The Four Georges.

THE Beau's life in Calais became very methodical; he

rose at nine, and breakfasted on café au lait, read papers or books till twelve, then commenced his toilette; and when this, which lasted nearly two hours, was completed, he held his levee and sat chatting with his friends. English people were often passing through Calais, and, though Brummell was as particular as ever about the friends he made, he gradually was drawn into a French circle, scarcely as aristocratic as that surrounding the Regent, but pleasant enough. At four he took his walk upon the ramparts or ramparts or in his garden at their foot, accompanied by his dog Vick, of whom he was very fond. At five he went back to his room, dressed for dinner, which was sent in from Dessin's (an hotel near by) at six, and at which, in spite of his jibe to the Mayor, he drank a bottle of Dorchester ale, followed by a glass of liqueur brandy and a bottle of Burgundy. A friend of his in Calais said that only once during his long residence there was he known to be drunk, and then he was so disgusted that he inflicted solitary confinement upon himself for

Brummell in Exile

253

eight days. At seven he would go to the theatre, where he had a small box, or spend the evening in his garden.

For a time he had many visitors, for the friends he had left in England thought much of him still. Lord Westmoreland, when passing through Calais, once asked him to dine with him at three. "Your Lordship is very kind, but I really could not feed at that hour," was his characteristic reply.

One morning a soft rap on his door seemed to announce some pleasant friend, and "Come in!" cried Brummell. The door opened slowly to admit the head only of one of the firm of moneylenders, Howard & Gibbs. Brummell was astounded; then, in an access of rage, shouted: "Why, you little rascal! are you not hung yet? Begone!' The head obeyed, the door closed, and the incident with it.

The Calais circle grew to expect and sometimes even to anticipate his stories, and he had the credit of saying both funny and rude things which probably never emanated from him.

Once some rude remark that he either did or did not make being repeated, Brummell received a call from the injured gentleman's second, who in a very peremptory way demanded satisfaction or apology, giving five minutes for the latter. Five minutes, sir?" cried the Beau in a cold sweat; "in five seconds or in less if you like." He told some one later that he loved notoriety but not of that kind.

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In his long and hopeless exile Brummell practically lived upon the kindness of his friends. Among those who saw him from time to time and who sent him substantial tokens of their regard were the Dukes of Wellington, Rutland, Richmond, Beaufort, and Bedford;