w for the brandy-and-water."

This was soon produced, and although Number One had lost all
articulation, he had still the power of deglutition; he filled his
glass, sat up more erect, stared at the candles, and drank his grog; the
other did the same, when Number Three again spoke.

"My dear Sir, I hope you will excuse the liberty, but my name is Captain
C--, of the --. Will you allow me the honour of presenting my card, and
of saying how proud I shall be to make your acquaintance?" So saying,
he presented me another card, which I put aside with the first.

"Ha, ha, ha! what a good joke, to find you up. I said we should get
brandy-and-water here; wasn't that capital?--ha, ha, ha, ha!"

I could not exactly see the joke of being kept up for perhaps two more
hours, but I begged they would refill their glasses, as the sitting
would be sooner ended one way or the other--either by the bottle being
empty, or their falling under the table--I did not care which--when I
was again addressed by Number Three.

"I really beg your pardon, but--I'm afraid I have been very remiss--will
you allow me to introduce myself? I am Captain C--, of the --. Here is
my card, and I cannot say how happy I shall be if I may have the honour
of your acquaintance."

I bowed a third time, and received a third card.

"By heavens, I've finished my tumbler! Ain't that capital? Ha, ha, ha!
famous fun;--and so has Alfred."

"Famous fun, indeed," thought I, as the contents of the bottle
disappeared.

"And Alfred is going to help himself again; well, that is capital, ha,
ha, ha!--ha, ha, ha!--ha, ha, ha, ha!"

Alfred, who was Number One, moved his lips, but like the frozen horn of
Munchausen, sounds would not come out; he did, however, follow up the
joke, by refilling his tumbler for the third time.

"Upon my honour, I've been very rude, I ought to apologise," said Number
Three, again drawing out his card-case; "but will you allow me to offer
my card? I am Captain C--, of the --, and I shall be most happy to make
your acquaintance."

I bowed again, and received the fourth card.

Thus were the changes rung by numbers, one, two, and three, until I was
tired out, two bottles more drank out, and I had received fifteen cards
from my very polite friend, whom I had never seen before.

At four o'clock they all rose to depart.

"Upon my soul, I do believe I'm drunk," said Number Two; "capital joke--
ha, ha, ha!"

Number One continued dumb, bra