A FAMILY PRIVILEGE 215 



Stage, 'muff and all.' Kelly, who possessed an extensive 

 acquaintance with mankind in general, says he never 

 met Queensberry's superior for astuteness and sheer 

 knowledge of the world, nor any who excelled him in 

 the 'polished manners of the vieille cour.' These 

 remarks are made with a due regard to the Duke's 

 faults, but the charitable Kelly dismisses the latter 

 with a ' Who has not weaknesses ? ' 



The manner Queensberry ministered to the plea- 

 sures of his French friends, without hurting their 

 amour propre, was quite in keeping with his char- 

 acter. Knowing that the generality of French men 

 and women are desespdri without a tolerably fair 

 share of amusement, he hit on the following scheme. 

 After coffee had been handed round, his grace 

 would say, ' Who is going to the opera to-night ? I 

 long to use my family privilege.' Kelly was present 

 at dinner one evening, when the Duchesse de la 

 Pienna asked what this privilege was. The Duke 

 replied, * That of writing admissions to the theatres, 

 for any number I please, without entailing any 

 expense.' These were words of comfort and joy 

 to the despoiled French aristocrats, and many, on 

 hearing this explanation, went with his grace's 

 written admissions, thinking they were under no 

 pecuniary obligation, as he had only exercised a 



