Punch (49.1865)

1

JJ10BY rushed into the Presence, much disconcerted, and growling.

“Well, my faithful, what is it P Anybody want to eat you?”

The intelligent creature nodded, intimating that his master had just hit it.

“ Giant waiting, Sir,” said the Groom of the Cigars, entering.

“ I have seen such a lot of them,” said Punch, discontentedly. “ There was Goliath of Gath, Maximin
the Emperor, Gabara of Arabia, .John Middleton of Hale, Patrick Cotter, the Irish giant, Bio Sam ot Carlton
Palace, and a dozen more of overgrown humanities. I don’t much care about him. Give him a handful ot
sovereigns and send him off.”

‘ But he-”

“ Answering me and providing yourself, Alphonso, is one and the same thing, as my friend Mrs. Varden

observes. However, I see that you are under gigantic influence. Speak again.”

“ He—which his name is Chang—is humbly eager to see you, Sir.”

“ That wish shows more brains than his kind usually own. Gratify his humble eagerness. Fear nothing,
Toby. Under our Eye, his Chinese appetite shall be curbed.”

Chang stood in The Presence. Toby evinced continued ill-feeling.

“ Now, Big ’un, what’s up ? ” asked Mr. Punch. Observe that with his usual independence he selected
the smallest words for the largest auditor. Had the latter been a dwarf, Mr. Punch would probably have requested
an intimation of the circumstances which had induced the requisition of that interview.

“ Cousin of the stars,” said Chang ; “ your intolerably unworthy servant tenders you his worthless acknow-

ledgments of the priceless boon of admission to your unparalleled presence. He reverentially thanks you for the
extraordinary countenance you have been pleased to show him.”

“ I don’t know that my countenance is so extraordinary, Gigas. Fascinating, intellectual, impressive, perhaps.”
“Your slave’s abominable vocabulary is atrociously inadequate to the occasion,” said Chang; “but he
intended to refer to the patronage which your Eminence has been pleased to extend to him and to his brother Anak.”
“ I always foster rising genius,” said Mr. Punch ; “ even when it rises to the height of eight feet, or
whatever you call yourself. I have immortalised you in my pages. Well, what next p ”