The
scholar, who thus rose to be the servant of Roseton,--a position that
even the President of a Western college might envy, such were its
dignities and emoluments,--stood for a moment at the foot of Roseton's
couch, and in silence received the silent orders of the day. No words
passed, but in an incredibly short space of time Roseton's commands had
flashed into the mind of his attendant, and the latter withdrew to
reduce them to writing for the benefit of the four masters of the four
departments of the House. They in turn methodized them for their
forty-eight deputies, and one hundred and ninety-two servants--in
addition to the female who came to the house to receive the weekly
wash--performed their daily task intelligently and harmoniously.
A bath of atar of roses next received the master of the House of
Pont-Noir. This was renewed every hour of the day; for Roseton's fancy
indulged the frequent and the casual lavation, and his exacting taste
demanded the strictest purity. A careless servant once ventured to leave
the bath filled without a change of the fluid, after it had been
occupied; but the negligence was at once detected by the master of
Pont-Noir, and his weekly allowance of cologne-water was summarily
reduced.
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