In the household of the latter he held the position of Groom of the Chamber, a sinecure of handsome endowment, so handsome, indeed, as to warrant an occasional draft upon his talents for the entertainment of her Majesty's immediate circle, which held itself as far as possible aloof from the court, and was disposed to be self-reliant for its amusements.

Alfred has for some time been hostile because I could not if I would, and would not if I could, find him a snug sinecure in some of the companies.

But he did hope to lower his prestige by making him the holder of a sinecure at home.

For she was entirely impressed with the idea that no person or body could have any right to call in question the king's disposal of the national revenue; and that there was no prerogative of the crown of which the exercise was more becoming to the royal dignity than that of granting pensions or creating sinecures with no limitations but such as might be imposed by his own will or discretion.

He kept his sinecure by mastering his tongue, preserving almost bovine speechlessness.