THE GOLD SNUFF-BOX. 181 



their hands into the pockets of their nether garments. " In 

 how much have I the honour to be your ladyship's debtor ?" 



inquired the colonel, with a gracious smile. Mrs. P 



instantly mumbled, with the rapidity of a barmaid, " Ten 

 points three rubbers only nine guineas." The colonel 

 started and stared. "Nine devils I I mean, guineas I" 

 exclaimed the Sub, in awful consternation. But the decree 

 had gone forth. " They never played higher deep play 

 was detestable." The money was accordingly doled out, 

 and I observed that the contents of the lieutenant's purse, 

 after rendering this sweeping subsidy, were reduced to a 

 solitary guinea. 



At this moment the supper-rooms were thrown open, and 

 away went the crowd. The Dowagers were left to scramble 

 up their winnings, and the soldiers, I presume, to execrate 

 their own bad luck. Miss Garden and I, who witnessed the 



impudent revoke perpetrated by Mrs. P , and passed 



over by my Lady L , mutually decided, that in common 



justice, both ladies should have been consigned for a month to 

 the house of correction. 



Supper, as all suppers have done, ended. I placed my 

 handsome partner in her mother's carriage, and was then 

 depositing myself in a hackney-coach, when I espied my 

 military friends upon the steps, hailed them immediately, and, 

 embarking in the same vehicle, we were duly landed at "the 

 Wexford." 



" Waiter!" cried the colonel, in a voice of thunder, " some 

 brandy and red hot water. I wore my thin tights, for the first 

 time these six months," addressing me, " and, by St. Patrick ! 

 my limbs are icicles. I drank two glasses of execrable 

 Teneriffe ! and, God knows one would be a sufficient dose of 

 poison for a gouty man like me. Arrah ! waiter, have you it 

 in the house ? If you have not, say so, and I'll run out and 

 save my life at the next tavern." But the waiter was prompt, 

 and the house honest. Up came the brandy and materials ; 

 and the colonel, relieved from the anticipated attack in his 

 stomach, " breathed again." 



I looked at my unfortunate friends, and never did 

 men bear their misfortunes so differently. While the 

 subaltern was in a phrensy, the commander was calm as a 

 philosopher. 



