Who is she? She must be the Colonel's daughter; I've heard that his daughter is a pretty girl. I must have expressed my warm admiration of the photograph, and he must have responded by giving it to me. Did I ask him for her hand? Did he refuse it? or did he put off his reply? Perhaps that was why I drank too much.
Now let me proceed. What further happened? Let me continue my researches.
[Tries the pockets of his overcoat.
By Jingo! Two visiting cards! The first says:
"Captain Wellington Spearman,
First Royal Lancer Dragoons."
The other:
"Major Garnet Babelock Cannon,
Rifle Artillery."
Now, what does it all mean? I do not know those military gentlemen. They must have been guests like myself. How do I come to have their cards? There must have been some dispute, some quarrel, some row. These two cards must have been given in exchange for two of mine.
It all comes back to me!
A duel—perhaps two duels!