“If you only knew the nature of the attachment, and how completely all my future hopes are concerned upon the issue—”
“Ho!” said I, “so it’s a money affair, is it? and is it old Watson has issued the writ? I’ll bet a hundred.”
“Well, upon my soul, Lorrequer,” said he, jumping from his chair, and speaking with more energy than he had before evinced, “you are, without exception, the most worldly-minded, cold-blooded fellow I ever met. What have I said that could have led you to suppose I had either a duel or a law-suit upon my hands this morning? Learn, once and for all, man, that I am in love—desperately and over head and ears in love.”
“Et puis,” said I coolly.
“And intend to marry immediately.”
“Oh, very well,” said I; “the fighting and debt will come later, that’s all. But to return—now for the lady.”
“Come, you must make a guess.”
“Why, then, I really must confess my utter inability; for your attentions have been so generally and impartially distributed since our arrival here, that it may be any fair one, from your venerable partner at whist last evening, to Mrs. Henderson, the pastry-cook inclusive, for whose macaroni and cherry-brandy your feelings have been as warm as they are constant.”
“Come, no more quizzing, Hal. You surely must have remarked that lovely girl I waltzed with at Power’s ball on Tuesday last.”
“Lovely girl! Why, in all seriousness, you don’t mean the small woman with the tow wig?”