"While Suspicion robs him of his ease,
Peculiar danger in a red coat sees;
Envies each handsome fellow whom he spies.
And feels his horns at every cornet rise."
Eh—ha ha, ha!'
'Dem husbands—I hate them all.'
'Talking of the Brigade, have you heard of Jernyngham of your battalion lately?'
'He was well cleaned out before he—aw—disappeared from London; but don't know him now, poor devil.'
'It was at this "poor devil's" table you spent some of your happiest hours,' said Clavering, reproachfully. There was a pause, during which I turned towards the door, sick of this empty conversation, and impatient to see the baronet. After the learned Mac Fee had delivered himself for the tenth time of some stereotyped remarks on the heat of the weather, and the excellence of the wine, Mr. Snobleigh observed with his most languid air.
'I am tired of this kind of thing, and must go back to town. Horrid slow here in the 'Ighlands—and—aw—slow fellows all round about. Laura Everingham is chawming, no doubt; and—aw—your sister, Clavering, imparts quite a London air to the whole place; but I—aw—still long for Town. One always saves something, however, in this bawbawous wegion—beg pardon, Mr. Mac Fee, but—aw—aw—'tis so. Had Jernyngham been here, his stud had never been pounded at Tattersall's—his commission at Greenwood's, or his plate by aw—aw—the Lord's chosen people. Now, for instance, in the matter of gloves; in Town, I—aw—I take a walk—and spoil a pair; I take a canter along Rotten Row, or in Hyde Pawk, another pair; dinner, another pair, and for the opera or a ball, another pair, and—aw—aw—so on. And then when one is in debt, as of course everybody is but low scoundrels, the—aw—the saving in many things here is enormous; besides, one aw—acquires the habit of early rising.'
'So the Highlands are not without their advantages?' said I.
'Aw—yes. In London, if not for duty at Kensington or the Tower, I breakfast at one, on coffee and a cigaw; but here I rise at ten appetised like an 'Ighland 'awk—a glass of liqueur—tea, coffee, ham, tongue, game, fowl—aw, aw—dinner ditto; and after knocking about the balls a little, and having a deux temps with Laura, or a game at guinea points, then a devilled bone and champagne—then to bed at two in the morning—at two! aw—think of that Clavering—how Gothic—oh—aw—infernally!'
'Now,' said the sheriff, 'what say you to our proposed little game at écarté?'