'That were but two feet high.'
'And, through a cross fire of bullets, crossed the square to where I lay--'
'The fire was a half charge of duckshot that an old fellow let off by mismanagement from a rusty pistol. Both sides stopped firing the moment I jumped over--the politest thing. I might have been tripping down the Mall with a lady on my arm, for all the danger I ran.'
'But your wounds?'
'I slipped and cut my shin on the sharp cobbles, that's true.'
'Mr. Wogan, it will not do! Had I known your name this evening when Lady Mary made us acquainted, certain expressions properly distasteful to you would not have escaped my lips. But now I can make amends for them to the gallant gentleman who brought a wounded enemy out of a cross-fire. I apologise to you, but I cannot oblige you to the extent you wish, however you may attempt to make light of your courage, and of the obligation on my side.'
'Sure, Colonel, to be done with adornment of the real truth, I only saved such a fine man to have the pleasure of killing him myself.'
Here the Colonel broke into a laugh.
'Mr. Wogan, if I drew my sword and stood up before you without making a parry or a lunge, would you kill me?'
'No, indeed, there would be little diversion in that game,' said Wogan, who was now grown quite melancholic.