"Neither, please, my lady; bluish, rayther, I should say."
"But it is either long or short, decidedly, and I forget which," said Lady Alice—"'Tisn't he!"
The General ground his teeth with impatience, and knocked so sharp a signal at the door that Lady Alice bounced in her bed.
"Lord bless us! How dare he do that?—tell him how dare he."
"Lady Alice, sir, would be much obliged if you'd be so good not knock so loud, sir, please," said the maid at the door, translating the message.
"Tell your mistress I'm General Lennox, and must have my key," glared the General, and the lady's-maid, who was growing nervous, returned.
"He looks, my lady, like he'd beat us, please, if he does not get the key, my lady."
"Sha'n't have it, the brute! We don't know he is—a robber, maybe. Bolt the door, and tell him to bring Monsieur Varbarriere to the lobby, and if he says he's General Lennox he shall have the key."
With trembling fingers the maid did bolt the door, and once more accost the soldier, who was chafing on the threshold.
"Please, sir, my lady is not well, having nervous pains, please sir, in her head to-night, and therefore would be 'appy if you would be so kind to bring Mister Barvarrian" (the name by which our corpulent friend was known in the servants' hall) "to her door, please, when she'll try what she may do to oblige you, sir."