The Merry Past 



thus risen so rapidly into military estimation. In 

 consequence thereof the major was informed that 

 he must instantly give in his commission, or his 

 degradation would be made in public quarters at the 

 head of the line. By the humane interference of 

 the gentleman who discovered him, he was rescued, 

 however, from this disgrace, and suffered to retain 

 his rank, on condition of his retiring from the service. 

 After his detection it was discovered that scarcely 

 a person of rank in Brussels but had been induced to 

 supply him with sums of money under various pre- 

 texts. Mrs. Semple, meanwhile, had been a resident 

 of Calais ; but as a consolation for her absence, the 

 Major lived en famille with a Frenchwoman of ex- 

 quisite beauty. 



In the early days of the nineteenth century the 

 army contained not a few officers who indulged in 

 outrageous conduct. Such a one was Captain Mac- 

 lellan of the Coldstream Guards, who one night at 

 dinner, declining to drink any more wine with a 

 brother officer. Ensign Lloyd, was pressed by the 

 Ensign to give his reason. 



" To tell you the truth," replied the captain, 

 " I have an assignation with your wife to-night, and 

 as a man of honour, I am resolved to keep it ! " 

 Ensign Lloyd endeavoured to pass this off as a joke ; 

 but the other assuring him that he was in earnest, 

 received a glass of wine in his face, and a manual 

 skirmish ensued. The commanding officer having 

 heard the case, with the addition that no further 

 step had been taken by either party, put them both 



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