In fact, if the truth must be told, Mr. Altamont, having remained at the buffet almost all night, and employed himself very actively while there, had considerably flushed his brain by drinking, and he was still going on drinking when Mr. Strong and Miss Amory entered the room.
When the chevalier ran out of the apartment, attracted by the noise in the dancing-room, the colonel rose from his chair with his little red eyes glowing like coals, and, with rather an unsteady gait, advanced toward Blanche, who was sipping her ice. She was absorbed in absorbing it, for it was very fresh and good; or she was not curious to know what was going on in the adjoining room, although the waiters were, who ran after Chevalier Strong. So that when she looked up from the glass, she beheld this strange man staring at her out of his little red eyes. "Who was he? It was quite exciting."
"And so you're Betsy Amory," said he, after gazing at her. "Betsy Amory, by Jove!"
"Who—who speaks to me?" said Betsy, alias Blanche.
But the noise in the ball-room is really becoming so loud, that we must rush back thither, and see what is the cause of the disturbance.