The Lord Marshal took a beaker, and called out to Edward Norris.  “I drink to the health of my Lord Norris, and of my lady; your mother.”  So saying, he emptied his glass.

The young man did not accept the pledge.

“Your Lordship knows,” he said somewhat sullenly, “that I am not wont to drink deep.  Mr. Sidney there can tell you that, for my health’s sake, I have drank no wine these eight days.  If your Lordship desires the pleasure of seeing me drunk, I am not of the same mind.  I pray you at least to take a smaller glass.”

Sir William insisted on the pledge.  Norris then, in no very good humour, emptied his cup to the Earl of Essex.

Essex responded by draining a goblet to Count Hollock.

“A Norris’s father,” said the young Earl; as he pledged the Count, who was already very drunk, and looking blacker than ever.

“An ’orse’s father—­an ‘orse’s father!” growled’ Hollock; “I never drink to horses, nor to their fathers either:”  and with this wonderful witticism he declined the pledge.

Essex explained that the toast was Lord Norris, father of the Captain; but the Count refused to understand, and held fiercely, and with damnable iteration, to his jest.

The Earl repeated his explanation several times with no better success.  Norris meanwhile sat swelling with wrath, but said nothing.

Again the Lord Marshal took the same great glass, and emptied it to the young Captain.

Norris, not knowing exactly what course to take, placed the glass at the side of his plate, and glared grimly at Sir William.

Pelham was furious.  Reaching over the table, he shoved the glass towards Norris with an angry gesture.

“Take your glass, Captain Norris,” he cried; “and if you have a mind to jest, seek other companions.  I am not to be trifled with; therefore, I say, pledge me at once.”

“Your Lordship shall not force me to drink more wine than I list,” returned the other.  “It is your pleasure to take advantage of your military rank.  Were we both at home, you would be glad to be my companion.”

Norris was hard beset, and although his language was studiously moderate, it was not surprising that his manner should be somewhat insolent.  The veteran Lord Marshal, on the other hand, had distinguished himself on many battle-fields, but his deportment at this banqueting-table was not much to his credit.  He paused a moment, and Norris, too, held his peace, thinking that his enemy would desist.

It was but for a moment.

“Captain Norris,” cried Pelham, “I bid you pledge me without more ado.  Neither you nor your best friends shall use me as you list.  I am better born than you and your brother, the colonel-general, and the whole of you.”

“I warn you to say nothing disrespectful against my brother,” replied the Captain.  “As for yourself, I know how to respect your age and superior rank.”