224 THE QUEEN AT DINNER. 



exactly at dinner-time, and was shown into the 

 eating-room. She was lying on fine mats before a 

 large looking-glass, stretched as usual on her pro 

 digious stomach : a number of Chinese porcelain 

 dishes, containing food of various kinds, were 

 ranged in a semicircle before her, and the attend 

 ants were busily employed in handing first one 

 and then another to her Majesty. She helped 

 herself with her fingers from each in its turn, 

 and ate most voraciously, whilst two boys flap 

 ped away the flies with large bunches of fea 

 thers. My appearance did not at all disturb 

 her : she greeted me with her mouth full, and 

 graciously nodded her desire that I should take 

 my seat in a chair by her side, when I witness- 

 ed, I think, the most extraordinary meal upon 

 record. How much had passed the royal mouth 

 before my entrance, I will not undertake to 

 affirm ; but it took in enough in my presence 

 to have satisfied six men ! Great as was my 

 admiration at the quantity of food thus con 

 sumed, the scene which followed was calcu 

 lated to increase it. Her appetite appear 

 ing satisfied at length, the Queen drew her 

 breath with difficulty two or three times, then 



