On re-entering the waiting-room, Mr. Fitzgerald eagerly inquired, "Have they _elected_ me right, now, Mr. Brookes?" the reply was, "Sorry to inform you that the result of the second balloting is--that _two_ black balls were dropped, Sir."--"Then," exclaimed Fitzgerald, "there's now _two mistakes_ instead of one." He then persuaded Brookes again to proceed upstairs, and tell the honourable members to "try again, and make no more mistakes." General Fitzpatrick proposed that Brookes should reply, "His cause was all hopeless, for that he was _black-balled all over_, from head to foot, and it was hoped by all the members that Mr. Fitzgerald would not persist in thrusting himself into society where his company was declined." This message was of no avail: no sooner had Fitzgerald heard it than he exclaimed: "Oh, I perceive it is a _mistake altogether_, Mr. Brookes, and I must see to the rectifying of it myself, there's nothing like _daling_ with principals; so, I'll step up at once, and put this thing to rights, without any more unnecessary delay."
In spite of Mr. Brookes's remonstrance, that his entrance into the Club-room was against all rule and etiquette, Fitzgerald flew upstairs, and entered the room without any further ceremony than a bow, saying to the members, who indignantly rose at the intrusion, "Your servant, gentlemen--I beg ye will be _sated_."
Walking up to the fireplace, he thus addressed Admiral Stewart:--"So, my dear Admiral, Mr. Brookes informs me that I have been _elected_ three times."
"You have been balloted for, Mr. Fitzgerald, but I am sorry to say you have not been chosen," said Stewart.
"Well, then," replied the duellist, "did _you_ black-ball me?"--"My good Sir," answered the Admiral, "how could you suppose such a thing?"--"Oh, I _supposed_ no such thing, my dear fellow; I only want to know who it was that dropped the black balls in by accident, as it were!"
Fitzgerald now went up to each individual member, and put the same question _seriatim_, "Did you black-ball me, Sir?" until he made the round of the whole Club; and in each case he received a reply similar to that of the Admiral. When he had finished his inquisition, he thus addressed the whole body: "You see, Gentlemen, that as none of ye have black-balled me, _I must be chose_; and it is Mr. Brookes that has made the mistake. But I was convinced of it from the beginning, and I am only sorry that so much time has been lost as to prevent honourable gentlemen from enjoying each other's company sooner." He then desired the waiter to bring him a bottle of champagne, that he might drink long life to the Club, and wish them joy of their unanimous election of a "_rael_ gentleman by father and mother, and _who never missed his man_."
