at Cheltenham might come out. Happily they seemed all
ignorant of this; and fearing to bring conversation in any way to the
matter of my late travels, I fell in with their humour, and agreed that
if it were possible, in the limited time allowed me to manage it--I had
but four days--I should undertake the character. My concurrence failed
to give the full satisfaction I expected, and they so habitually did what
they pleased with me, that, like all men so disposed, I never got the
credit for concession which a man more niggardly of his services may
always command.

"To be sure you will do it, Harry," said the Major, "why not? I could
learn the thing myself in a couple of hours, as for that."

Now, be it known that the aforesaid Major was so incorrigibly slow of
study, and dull of comprehension, that he had been successively degraded
at our theatrical board from the delivering of a stage message to the
office of check-taker.

"He's so devilish good in the love scene," said the junior ensign, with
the white eyebrows. "I say, Curzon, you'll be confoundedly jealous
though, for he is to play with Fanny."

"I rather think not," said Curzon, who was a little tipsy.

"Oh, yes," said Frazer, "Hepton is right. Lorrequer has Fanny for his
'Frou;' and, upon my soul, I should feel tempted to take the part myself
upon the same terms; though I verily believe I should forget I was
acting, and make fierce love to her on the stage."

"And who may la charmante Fanny be?" said I, with something of the air of
the "Dey of Algiers" in my tone.

"Let Curzon tell him," said several voices together, "he is the only ma
to do justice to such perfection."

"Quiz away, my merry men," said Cruzon, "all I know is, that you are a
confoundedly envious set of fellows; and if so lovely a girl had thrown
her eyes on one amongst you--"

"Hip! hip! hurrah!" said old Fitzgerald, "Curzon is a gone man. He'll be
off to the palace for a license some fine morning, or I know nothing of
such matters."

"Well, Bat," said I, "if matters are really as you all say, why does not
Curzon take the part you destine for me?"

"We dare not trust him," said the Major, "Lord bless you, when the
call-boy would sing out for Captain Beaugarde in the second act, we'd
find that he had Levanted with our best slashed trowsers, and a bird of
paradise feather in his cap."

"Well," thought I, "this is better at least than I anticipated, for if
nothing else offers, I sh