My first impulse, after amazement had a little subsided, was to laugh immoderately; in this I was joined by Stubbes, who, feeling that his mirth was participated in, gave full vent to his risibility.  And, indeed, as I stood before the glass, grinning from ear to ear, I felt very little surprise that my joining in the laughter of my brother officers, a short time before, had caused an increase of their merriment.  I threw myself upon a sofa, and absolutely laughed till my sides ached, when, the door opening, the adjutant made his appearance.  He looked for a moment at me, then at Stubbes, and then burst out himself, as loud as either of us.  When he had at length recovered himself, he wiped his face with his handkerchief, and said, with a tone of much gravity:—­

“But, my dear Lorrequer, this will be a serious—­a devilish serious
affair.   You know what kind of man Colonel C____ is; and you are aware,
too, you are not one of his prime favourites.   He is firmly convinced
that you intended to insult him, and nothing will convince him to the
contrary.   We told him how it must have occurred, but he will listen to
no explanation.”

I thought for one second before I replied, my mind, with the practised rapidity of an old campaigner, took in all the pros and cons of the case; I saw at a glance, it were better to brave the anger of the Colonel, come in what shape it might, than be the laughing-stock of the mess for life, and with a face of the greatest gravity and self-possession, said,

“Well, adjutant, the Colonel is right.  It was no mistake!  You know I sent him tickets yesterday for the theatre.  Well, he returned them; this did not annoy me, but on one account, I had made a wager with Alderman Gullable, that the Colonel should see me in Othello—­what was to be done?  Don’t you see, now, there was only one course, and I took it, old boy, and have won my bet!”

“And lost your commission for a dozen of champagne, I suppose,” said the adjutant.

“Never mind, my dear fellow,” I repled; “I shall get out of this scrape, as I have done many others.”

“But what do you intend doing?”

“Oh, as to that,” said I, “I shall, of course, wait on the Colonel immediately; pretend to him that it was a mere blunder, from the inattention of my servant—­hand over Stubbes to the powers that punish, (here the poor fellow winced a little,) and make my peace as well as I can.  But, adjutant, mind,” said I, “and give the real version to all our fellows, and tell them to make it public as much as they please.”

“Never fear,” said he, as he left the room still laughing, “they shall all know the true story; but I wish with all my heart you were well out of it.”

I now lost no time in making my toilet, and presented myself at the Colonel’s quarters.  It is no pleasure for me to recount these passages in my life, in which I have had to hear the “proud man’s contumely.”  I shall therefore merely observe, that after a very long interview, the Colonel accepted my apologies, and we parted.