"Nonsense!" replied Colonel Berkeley, laughing.
"I am now sure of it," added I.
Colonel Berkeley slily nodded assent to my remark.
Deerhurst was smelling a bottle of hartshorn, which Sophia's landlady held fast to the end of his nose. Berkeley addressed Sophia in a whisper. Deerhurst jumped up like a madman, and was leaving the room.
"My good fellow," said the colonel, taking Lord Deerhurst by the arm, for this excellent acting had really deceived even Berkeley himself, whom his lordship had brought to Sophia's door in his own carriage for the express purpose of taking her off his hands, "if you really are annoyed at my visit, if you have changed your mind—only say so, and I give you my word I will not call on Sophia again. Be a man! don't make this noise and bellowing; but tell me frankly what you wish. You and I are old friends."
Deerhurst said that his feelings were wounded and his heartstrings cracked; therefore he must go home and get them mended: and he darted out of the house.
"What the deuce can all this mean?" said Berkeley. "The man really is unhappy. I must go after him."
"Take me with you," I said, "just to gratify my curiosity."
"With all my heart," replied Berkeley, "if my carriage is at the door."