So-and-so could talk well, and the other man could sing
a song. He was so far gone by now, that I ventured (in
the capacity of medical adviser) to speak to him about
it.
It's not the liquor, Dr. Munro, sir," said he
earnestly. It's the ---- relaxing air of this town. But
I'll go home and lie I'll down, and be as fresh as paint
to welcome my guests."
But the excitement of the impending event must have
been too much for him. When I arrived at five minutes to
seven, Turpey, the wounded lieutenant, met me in the hall
with a face of ill omen.
"It's all up with Whitehall," said he.
"What's the matter?"
"Blind, speechless and paralytic. Come and look."
The table in his room was nicely laid for dinner, and
several decanters with a large cold tart lay upon the
sideboard. On the sofa was stretched our unfortunate
host, his head back, his forked beard pointing to the
cornice, and a half finished tumbler of whisky upon the
chair beside him. All our shakes and shouts could not
break in upon that serene drunkenness.
"What are we to do?" gasped Turpey.
"We must not let him make an exhibition of himself.
We had better get him away before any one else arrives."
So we bore him off, all in coils and curves like a
dead python, and deposited him upon his bed. When we
returned three other guests had arrived.
"You'll be sorry to hear that Whitehall is not very
well," said Turpey.
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