royalty restored-第25节
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apartments in the royal palace of Whitehall； appointed him a retinue befitting the heir apparent； created him Duke of Orkney and of Monmouth； and installed him a knight of the garter。
But； before this had been accomplished； there arrived in town some personages whose names it will be necessary to mention here； the figure they made at court being considerable。 These were Sir George Hamilton and his family； and Philibert； Chevalier de Grammont。 Sir George was fourth son of James； Earl of Abercorn； and of Mary； sister to James； first Duke of Ormond。 Sir George had proved himself a loyal man and a brave during the late civil war； and had on the murder of his royal master sought safety in France； from which country he； in the second year of the restoration； returned； accompanied by a large family； the women of which were fair； the men fearless。 The Hamiltons being close kin to the Ormond great intimacy existed between them； to facilitate which they lived not far apartthe duke residing in Ormond Yard； St。 James's Square； and the Hamiltons occupying a spacious residence in King Street。 James Hamilton； Sir George's eldest son； was remarkable for the symmetry of his figure； elegance of his manner； and costliness of his dress。 Moreover； he possessed a taste shaped to pleasure； and a disposition inclined to gallantry； which commended him so strongly to the king's favour； that he was made groom of the bedchamber and colonel of a regiment。
His brother George was scarcely less handsome in appearance or less agreeable in manner。 Another brother； Anthony； best remembered as the writer of Grammont's memoirs； was likewise liberally endowed by nature。 Elizabeth； commonly called 〃la belle Hamilton；〃 shared in the largest degree the hereditary gifts of grace and beauty pertaining to this distinguished family。 At her introduction to the court of Charles II。 she was in the bloom of youth and zenith of loveliness。 The portrait of her which her brother Anthony has set before the world for its admiration is delicate in its colours； and finished in its details。 〃Her forehead；〃 he writes； 〃was open； white； and smooth； her hair was well set； and fell with ease into that natural order which it is so difficult to imitate。 Her complexion was possessed of a certain freshness； not to be equalled by borrowed colours； her eyes were not large； but they were lovely； and capable of expressing whatever she pleased； her mouth was full of graces； and her contour uncommonly perfect； nor was her nose； which was small； delicate； and turned up； the least ornament of so lovely a face。 She had the finest shape； the loveliest neck； and most beautiful arms in the world； she was majestic and graceful in all her movements； and she was the original after which all the ladies copied in their taste and air of dress。〃
Now； about the same time the Hamiltons arrived at court； there likewise appeared at Whitehall one whose fame as a wit； and whose reputation as a gallant； had preceded him。 This was the celebrated Chevalier de Grammont； whose father was supposed to be son of Henry the Great of France。 The chevalier had been destined by his mother for the church； the good soul being anxious he should lead the life of a saint； but the youth was desirous of joining the army； and following the career of a soldier。 Being remarkable for ingenuity； he conceived a plan by which he might gratify his mother's wishes and satisfy his own desires at the same time。 He therefore accepted the abbacy his brother procured for him； but on appearing at court to return thanks for his preferment； comported himself with a military air。 Furthermore； his dress was combined of the habit and bands pertaining to an ecclesiastic； and the buskins and spurs belonging to a soldier。 Such an amalgamation had never before been witnessed； and caused general attention； the court was amazed at his daring； but Richelieu was amused by his boldness。 His brother regarded his appearance in the dual character of priest and soldier as a freak； and on his return home asked him gravely to which profession he meant to attach himself。 The youth answered he was resolved 〃to renounce the church for the salvation of his soul；〃 upon condition that he retained his beneficed abbacy。 It may be added； he kept this resolution。
A soldier he therefore became； and subsequently a courtier。 His valour in war and luck in gambling won him the admiration of the camp； whilst his ardour in love and genius for intrigue gained him the esteem of the court； but finally lost him the favour of his king。 For attaching himself to one of the maids of honour； Mademoiselle La Motte Houdancourt； whom his most Christian Majesty Louis XIV。 had already honoured with his regard； Grammont was banished from the French court。
Accordingly； in the second year of the merry monarch's reign he presented himself at Whitehall； and was received by Charles with a graciousness that served to obliterate the memory of his late misfortune。 Nor were the courtiers less warm in their greetings than his majesty。 The men hailed him as an agreeable companion； the ladies intimated he need not wholly abandon those tender diversions for which he had shown such natural talent and received such high reputation at the court of Louis XIV。 He therefore promptly attached himself to the king； whose parties he invariably attended； and whose pleasures he continually devised； made friends with the most distinguished nobles； whom he charmed by the grace of his manner and extravagance of his entertainments； and took early opportunities of proving to the satisfaction of many of the fairer sex that his character as a gallant had by no means been exaggerated by report。
Amongst those to whom he paid especial attention were Mrs。 Middleton； a woman of fashion； and Miss Kirk； a maid of honour； to whom Hamilton； in his memoirs of Grammont； gives the fictitious name of Warmestre。 The former was at this time in her seventeenth summer； and had been two years a wife。 Her exquisitely fair complexion； light auburn hair； and dark hazel eyes constituted her a remarkably beautiful woman。 Miss Kirk was of a different type of loveliness； inasmuch as her skin was brown； her eyes dark； and her complexion brilliant。 As Mrs。 Middleton was at this time but little known at court； Grammont found some difficulty in obtaining an introduction to her as promptly as he desired； but feeling anxious to make her acquaintance； and being no laggard in love； he without hesitation applied to her porter for admittance； and took one of her lovers into his confidence。 This latter gallant rejoiced in the name of Jones； and subsequently became Earl of Ranelagh。 In the fulness of his heart towards one who experienced a fellow feeling； he resolved to aid Grammont in gaining the lady's favours。 This generosity being prompted by the fact that the chevalier would rid him of a rival whom he feared； and at the same time relieve him of an expense he could ill afford； the lady having certain notions of magnificence which her husband's income was unable to sustain。
Mrs。 Middleton received the chevalier with good grace； but he found her more ready to receive the presents he offered； than to grant the privileges he required。 Miss Kirk； on the other hand； was not only flattered by his attentions； but was willing to use every means in her power to preserve a continuance of his friendship； Therefore out of gratitude for graces received from one of the ladies； and in expectation of favours desired from the other； Grammont made them the handsomest presents。 Perfumed gloves； pocket looking…glasses； apricot paste； came every week from Paris for their benefit； whilst more substantial offerings in the shape of jewellery； diamonds； and guineas were procured for them in London； all of which they made no hesitation to accept。
It happened one night； whilst Grammont was yet in pursuit of Mrs。 Middleton； that the queen gave a ball。 In hope of winning her husband's affection； by studying his pleasures and suiting herself to his ways； her majesty had become a changed woman。 She now professed a passion for dancing； wore decollete costumes； and strove to surpass those surrounding her in her desire for gaiety。 Accordingly her balls were the most brilliant spectacles the court had yet witnessed； she taking care to assemble the fairest women of the day； and the most distinguished men。 Now amongst the latter was the Chevalier de Grammont； and amidst the former； Mrs。 Middleton and Miss Hamilton。
Of all the court beauties； 〃la belle Hamilton〃 was one of whom Grammont had seen least and heard most； but that which had been told him of her charms seemed； now that he beheld her； wholly inadequate to express her loveliness。 Therefore； his eyes followed her alone； as her graceful figure glided in the dance adown the ball…room； lighted with a thousand tapers； and brilliant with every type of beauty。 And when presently she rested； it was with an unusual flutter at his heart that this gallant； heretofore so daring in love； sought her company； addressed her； and listened with strange pleasure to the music of her voice。 From that night he courted Mrs。 Middleton no more； but devoted himself to 〃la belle Hamilton；〃 who subsequently became h
