“My dear Lady Marvlynn,” cried one of the gentlemen, “this is really too bad. In the first place, we do not care to dispense with the company of the ladies; and in the next, we are, I hope, not such slaves to habit as to persist in smoking in the company of ladies.”
“I shall not be satisfied if you do not enjoy yourselves in your own way.”
“This is not a barrack-room,” said Smythe, deprecatingly.
“Now, major, although I have every respect for your opinion,” said Lady Marvlynn, banteringly, “you are not in command here.”
“And if I were, I should give way to your ladyship,” returned the major.
“The best thing you can do is to keep the party alive by telling us one or two of your adventures,” said Lady Marvlynn. “Now don’t be disagreeable, major. Let me have my way this once.”
“Don’t I always let you have your way? Ah, dear me, I only wish I was a younger man.”
“I should like to be a little younger myself,” returned her ladyship.
Cigars were lighted, the wine was passed round, and the whole party were soon in social and animated conversation.
“Let me see, major,” observed Colonel Snappe, who was one of the guests; “were you not present at the execution of the ill-fated Maximilian?”