216 'OLD q' 



prerogative. Had they known the real facts, scarcely 

 one would have placed himself under obligation to 

 their host. 



Queensberry's 'family privilege' was one that 

 custom has bestowed equally on peer and peasant 

 — the pleasure of paying for what you may order or 

 require. To give the appearance of truth to his state- 

 ment, his grace had arranged with the managers of 

 the opera-houses and the principal theatres that his 

 written admissions were to pass for current coin, 

 his steward having orders to discharge them on being 

 re-presented. A more delicate method of conferring 

 a favour, and making light of it at the same time, 

 could hardly have been contrived. 



The observant Michael Kelly also bears testimony 

 to his grace's gastronomic taste, for he mentions he 

 never was present at more comfortable dinners than 

 those Queensberry gave ; these were served a la Russe 

 — a person at a buffet to carve each joint. Three 

 dishes at a time on the table were then the Duke's 

 limit, all recherche, and of the best money could buy 

 or the skill of his French cook (whom he termed his 

 ' offi^eier de bouche ' ) could devise. 



Kelly considers the Duke's musical accomplish- 

 ments beyond those of most amateurs ; indeed, he was 

 an excellent judge of the art. A favourite amuse- 



