Chapter_1253

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The courtiers stared, the ladies whispered, and

The Empress smiled: the reigning favourite frowned⁠—

I quite forget which of them was in hand

Just then, as they are rather numerous found,

Who took, by turns, that difficult command

Since first her Majesty was singly crowned:

But they were mostly nervous six-foot fellows,

All fit to make a Patagonian jealous.