I dressed myself with the speed of lightning; but as I proceeded in my occupation-guess my annoyance to find that the toilet-table and glass, ay, and even the basin-stand, had been removed to the dressing-room of the theatre; and my servant, I suppose, following his master’s example, was too tipsy to remember to bring them back; so that I was unable to procure the luxury of cold water—­for now not a moment more remained—­the drum had ceased, and the men had all fallen in.  Hastily drawing on my coat, I put on my shako, and buckling on my belt as dandy-like as might be, hurried down the stairs to the barrack-yard.  By the time I got down, the men were all drawn up in line along the square; while the adjutant was proceeding to examine their accoutrements, &c. as he passed down.  The colonel and the officers were standing in a group, but no conversing.  The anger of the commanding officer appeared still to continue, and there was a dead silence maintained on both sides.  To reach the spot where they stood, I had to pass along part of the line.  In doing so, how shall I convey my amazement at the faces that met me—­a general titter ran along the entire rank, which not even their fears for consequences seemed able to repress—­for an effort, on the part of many, to stifle the laugh, only ended in a still louder burst of merriment.  I looked to the far side of the yard for an explanation, but there was nothing there to account for it.  I now crossed over to where the officers were standing, determining in my own mind to investigate the occurrence thoroughly, when free from the presence of the colonel, to whom any representation of ill conduct always brought a punishment far exceeding the merits of the case.

Scarcely had I formed this resolve, when I reached the group of officers; but the moment I came near, one general roar of laughter saluted me,—­the like of which I never before heard—­I looked down at my costume, expecting to discover that, in my hurry to dress, I had put on some of the garments of Othello—­No:  all was perfectly correct.  I waited for a moment, till the first burst of their merriment over, I should obtain a clue to the jest.  But their mirth appeared to increase.  Indeed poor G——­, the senior major, one of the gravest men in Europe, laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks; and such was the effect upon me, that I was induced to laugh too—­as men will sometimes, from the infectious nature of that strange emotion; but, no sooner did I do this, than their fun knew no bounds, and some almost screamed aloud, in the excess of their merriment; just at this instant the Colonel, who had been examining some of the men, approached our group, advancing with an air of evident displeasure, as the shouts of loud laughter continued.  As he came up, I turned hastily round, and touching my cap, wished him good morning.  Never shall I forget the look he gave me.  If a glance could have annihilated any man, his would have finished me.  For a moment his face became purple with rage, his eye was almost hid beneath his bent brow, and he absolutely shook with passion.