All this was as it should be; but what the devil was to become of me? Indeed, my hour of retribution was at hand--for the reconciliation was scarcely completed, before it was intimated to Mr. Pryme, that an unknown guest had honoured the mansion with his company,--that he was at present sound asleep--that his reception had been affectionate--but it was not considered necessary to add, that he had received more decided tokens of regard, and been kissed by half the female portion of the establishment.
To ascertain who this mysterious visitor might be, Mr. Pryme proceeded at once to my apartment, accompanied by his henchman, Jack Costigan, who, to guard against danger or surprise, had provided himself with the kitchen poker. No ally could have been better affected than the butler; for, by future good service, he was anxious to redeem the error he had committed in rejecting an heir-apparent from his father’s house, as unceremoniously as if he had been the tax-gatherer.
I laboured under the stupid inertion which succeeds a drunken debauch, and was buried in profound repose. Unheard and unchallenged, the quaker approached my bed, while the butler unclosed the window-shutters. The quaker touched my shoulder gently--and in a voice as calm as if he were addressing an honoured guest, inquired, “Friend, art thou sleeping?”
Fancying that I was ‘wakened by my servant to attend morning drill, I irreverently responded,--
“Curse all parades! Tell Sergeant Skelton to go to Bath, and let the Adjutant go after him!”
“Swear not,” returned Mr. Pryme; “but say, how wilt thou excuse thyself?”--
“Oh!” I replied, still dreaming of drill and duty, “I’ll leave that to you: say I have a head-ache--a tooth-ache--or any ache you please. In short, tell any lie that will answer best!”
“Friend, thou dost neither comprehend my meaning, nor I thine;” replied the old gentleman.
At the moment, Mr. Costigan managed to unclose the shutters;--a flood of sunshine streamed in, lightened the apartment suddenly, and at once dispelled my slumberings. I started, like a guilty thing, bolt upright in the bed, and encountered full front, the burly form of the honest quaker; while Mr. Costigan, poker in hand, remained some paces in the rear, ready to aid and support his master on the first indication of hostilities.