When I awoke on the following day I had considerable difficulty in tracing the events of the past evening.  The great scarlet cloak, however, unravelled much of the mystery, and gradually the whole of my career became clear before me, with the single exception of the episode of Phil Beamish, about which my memory was subsequently refreshed—­but I anticipate.  Only five appeared that day at mess; and, Lord!  What spectres they were!—­yellow as guineas; they called for soda water without ceasing, and scarcely spoke a word to each other.  It was plain that the corporation of Cork was committing more havoc among us than Corunna or Waterloo, and that if we did not change our quarters, there would be quick promotion in the corps for such as were “seasoned gentlemen.”  After a day or two we met again together, and then what adventures were told—­each man had his own story to narrate; and from the occurrences detailed, one would have supposed years had been passing, instead of the short hours of an evening party.  Mine were indeed among the least remarkable; but I confess that the air of vraisemblance produced by my production of the aldermanic gown gave me the palm above all competitors.

Such was our life in Cork—­dining, drinnking, dancing, riding steeple chases, pigeon shooting, and tandem driving—­filling up any little interval that was found to exist between a late breakfast, and the time to dress for dinner; and here I hope I shall not be accused of a tendency to boasting, while I add, that among all ranks and degrees of men, and women too, there never was a regiment more highly in estimation than the 4_th.  We felt the full value of all the attentions we were receiving; and we endeavoured, as best we might, to repay them.  We got up Garrison Balls and Garrison Plays, and usually performed one or twice a week during the winter.  Here I shone conspicuously; in the morning I was employed painting scenery and arranging the properties; as it grew later, I regulated the lamps, and looked after the foot-lights, mediating occasionally between angry litigants, whose jealousies abound to the full as much, in private theatricals, as in the regular corps dramatique.  Then, I was also leader in the orchestra; and had scarcely to speak the prologues.  Such are the cares of greatness:  to do myself justice, I did not dislike them; though, to be sure, my taste for the drama did cost me a little dear, as will be seen in the sequel.

We were then in the full career of popularity.  Our balls pronounced the very pleasantest; our plays far superior to any regular corps that had ever honoured Cork with their talents; when an event occurred which threw a gloom over all our proceedings, and finally put a stop to every project for amusement, we had so completely given ourselves up to.  This was no less than the removal of our Lieutenant-Colonel.  After thirty years of active service in the regiment he then commanded, his age and infirmities, increased