"Nay, indeed!" answered the Master of the ceremonies, with a simper of gratification; "I scarcely know who he is yet; the Captain only made his appearance here to-night for the first time. He came with two other gentlemen: Ah! there they are!" and he pointed to the Earl's scrutinizing attention, the elegant forms of Mr. Augustus Tomlinson, and Mr. Ned Pepper, just emerging from the card-rooms. The swagger of the latter gentleman was so peculiarly important, that Mauleverer, angry as he was, could scarcely help laughing. The Master of the ceremonies noted the Earl's countenance, and remarked, that "that fine-looking man seemed disposed to give himself airs!"
"Judging from the gentleman's appearance," said the Earl drily, (Ned's face, to say truth, did betoken his affection for the bottle,) "I should imagine that he was much more accustomed to give himself thorough draughts."
"Ah!" renewed the arbiter elegantiarum,—who had not heard Mauleverer's observation,
