"I doubt the company is delightful."
"'I faith, that's very true for when the wine makes us loquacious, d—— e, we sing, and when it makes us mum, why, d——e, the dice-box talks for us. You'll join us, Sir?" he added, turning to Mr. Harthe-Brusshe.
"Proud," murmured that gentleman pensively regarding the rich scum slowly hardening over the plate of soup to be attacked next.
"Let me see," said Charles, "to-night we must positively keep quiet in deference to the Beau. Monday night I've promised to go to the Assembly."
"What's that?" said Mr. Anthony Clare, a florid young gentleman on the opposite side of the table. "Blewforth!" he called out to a naval officer farther along. "Charles has forsook letters and is going to try life for a change."
"Good G——," said the Lieutenant solemnly. "Charles crowding all canvas after a petticoat?"
Charles looked somewhat disconcerted by this immediate perception of his motives.
"I 'faith, you're in the wrong, Blewforth," he protested, "'tis to please Ripple and that's the whole truth of the matter."
A roar of laughter greeted this excuse, and every young gentleman in hearing vowed to exchange dice for dancing on Monday night.
"I saw Charles leave a note at a house in the Western Colonnade," remarked Ensign Chalkley of the Foot.