“Oh! very bad indeed: my head is ready to split: never felt such a sensation in my head before, except when I was struck with a spent ball at the battle of—”
“I am very sorry for your headache, colonel, but more sorry that the wine should have played you such a trick last night.”
“Trick indeed!” replied the colonel; “I was completely overcome: I do not recollect a word that passed after I had quitted the dinner table.”
“Are you serious? Do you not recollect the scene with Mrs Sullivan?”
“Mrs Sullivan! My dear sir, what scene? I certainly paid every attention due to a very pretty woman; but I recollect no further.”
“Not the scene in the drawing-room?”
“God bless me!—No—I do not even recollect ever going into the drawing-room! Pray tell me what I said or did: I hope nothing improper.”
“Why that depends very much whether a lady likes it or not: but in the presence of so many people—”
“Merciful powers! Captain Carrington, pray let me know at once what folly it was that I committed.”
“Why, really, I am almost ashamed to enter into particulars: suffice to say, that you used most unwarrantable freedom towards her.”