“Pshaw, damn it!” said Douglas, turning away, and addressing some remark to the General, who was provokingly attentive to everything that went on.

“Here,” continued Mr. Brittle, “are a set of jars, teapots, mandarins, sea-monsters, and pug-dogs, all of superior beauty, but such as your Ladyship may have seen before.”

“Oh, the dear, dear little puggies!  I must have them to amuse my own darlings.  I protest here is one the image of Psyche; positively I must kiss it!”

“Oh dear!  I am sure,” cried Mr. Brittle, simpering, and making a conceited bow, “your Ladyship does it and me too much honour.  But here, as I was going to say, is the phoenix of all porcelain ware—­the ne plus ultra of perfection—­what I have kept in my backroom, concealed from all eyes, until your Ladyship shall pronounce upon it.  Somehow one of my shopmen got word of it, and told her Grace of L----- (who has a pretty taste in these things for a young lady) that I had some particular choice article that I was keeping for a lady that was a favourite of mine.  Her Grace was in the shop the matter of a full hour and a half, trying to wheedle me out of a sight of this rare piece; and I, pretending not to know what her Grace would be after, but showing her thing after thing, to put it out of her head.  But she was not so easily bubbled, and at last went away ill enough pleased.  Now, my Lady, prepare all your eyes.”  He then went to the door, and returned, carrying with difficulty a large basket, which till then had been kept by one of his satellites.  After removing coverings of all descriptions, an uncouth group of monstrous size was displayed, which, on investigation, appeared to be a serpent coiled in regular folds round the body of a tiger placed on end; and the whole structure, which was intended for a vessel of some kind, was formed of the celebrated green mottled china, invaluable to connoisseurs.

“View that well,” exclaimed Mr. Brittle, in a transport of enthusiasm, “for such a specimen not one of half the size has ever been imported to Europe.  There is a long story about this my phoenix, as I call it; but, to be brief, it was secretly procured from one of the temples, where, gigantic as it may seem, and uncouth for the purpose, it was the idol’s principal teapot!”

“Oh delicious!” cried Lady Juliana, clasping her hands in ecstasy.  “I will give a party for the sole purpose of drinking tea out of this machine; and I will have the whole room fitted up like an Indian temple.  Oh! it will be so new!  I die to send out my cards.  The Duchess of B----- told me the other day, with such a triumphant air, when I was looking at her two little green jars, not a quarter the size of this, that there was not a bit more of that china to be had for love or money.  Oh, she will be so provoked!” And she absolutely skipped for joy.

A loud rap at the door now announcing a visitor, Lady Juliana ran to the balcony, crying, “Oh, it must be Lady Gerard, for she promised to call early in the morning, that we might go together to a wonderful sale in some far-off place in the city—­at Wapping, for aught I know.  Mr. Brittle, Mr. Brittle, for the love of heaven, carry the dragon into the back drawing-room—­I purchase it, remember!—­make haste!—­Lady Gerard is not to get a glimpse of it for the world.”