d of a joke, and never lost the
opportunity when it occurred; now it happened, that in the party invited
there was a merchant of the name of Sullivan, who, upon his last visit
to England, had returned with a very pretty, and at the same time, a
very coquettish young lady as his wife. It happened, in the casualties
of a large dinner party, that the old colonel (Ellice was his name, if I
have not mentioned it before) was seated next to her, and, as usual, was
remarkably attentive. Mr Sullivan, like many other gentlemen, was very
inattentive to his wife, and, unlike most Irishmen, was very jealous of
her. The very marked attention of the colonel had not escaped his
notice; neither did his fidgeting upon this occasion escape the notice
of those about him, who were aware of his disposition. The poor colonel
was one of those upon whose brain the wine had taken the most effect,
and it was not until after sundry falls, and being again placed upon his
legs, that he had been conveyed home, between Captain Carrington and Mr
---, the merchant at whose house the party from the Bombay Castle were
residing. The ensuing morning he did not make his appearance at
breakfast; and the gentlemen residing on the island, commenting upon the
events of the evening before, declared in a joking way that they should
not be surprised at Mr Sullivan sending him a challenge in the course
of the morning; that was, if he was up so soon, as he had quitted the
house in a greater state of inebriety than even the colonel. It was
upon this hint that Captain Carrington proposed to have some amusement;
and having arranged with one of the junior partners of the house, he
went into the room of the colonel, whom he found still in bed.

"Well, colonel, how do you find yourself?" said Captain Carrington, when
he had roused him.

"Oh! very bad indeed: my head is ready to split: never felt such a
sensation in my head before, except when I was struck with a spent ball
at the battle of--"

"I am very sorry for your headache, colonel, but more sorry that the
wine should have played you such a trick last night."

"Trick indeed!" replied the colonel; "I was completely overcome: I do
not recollect a word that passed after I had quitted the dinner table."

"Are you serious? Do you not recollect the scene with Mrs Sullivan?"

"Mrs Sullivan! My dear sir, what scene? I certainly paid every
attention due to a very pretty woman; but I recollect no further."

"Not