king over the events of the evening.

"Well, gentlemen," said the colonel, at last, "I hope you are satisfied
with our ball."

"Satisfied!" cried the major. "Sir, I should like to court-martial the
scoundrel who left that gas escaping!"

"Humph! Yes; but not a military offence," said the colonel. "Well,
doctor, you've been growing horribly rusty lately; this ought to make
you work easily and well!"

"Not my style," said the doctor. "Hysterical, frightened women and
singed dandies not my class of work! A good respectable gunshot wound,
a leg off, or a bayonet probe, if you like; but this sort of thing--bah!
Why, if it had not been for our flute-player and Sir Mark Frayne, I
should have been nowhere!"

"But where's Lacey?" said one of the officers.

"Ah, where's Adonis?" cried another.

"Poor old chap, he looked more like a chimney-sweep when he was pulled
out!"

"Yes, it was a narrow squeak for him; but I have not seen him since he
came to."

"Had a bath and gone to bed," said one of the subalterns; "and I feel as
if it would do me good."

"He was a bit scorched, one of the town doctors said."

"Here, who is waiting?" cried the colonel.

One of the servants appeared, with half-washed face, but clean hands,
and a moustache burned to a stubble.

"Go and see if Lieutenant Lacey's man is there, and send him up to his
master's quarters. Let him say that I shall be glad to know how he is;
but he is not to be disturbed if he is asleep."

"Beg pardon, sir; not asleep."

"How do you know?" said the colonel, sharply.

"I am Mr Lacey's servant, sir. He went home with two ladies, sir,
about two o'clock, sir, and hasn't come back."

"Then he can't be very bad!"

"Yes, he can!" said a deep voice, and the gentleman in question marched
up the room--blackened, with his hair scorched from the side of his
head, and one arm in a sling formed of a lady's silk scarf. "I'm
horribly bad! For goodness' sake, give me a drink!"

Almost as he uttered the words, Jerry handed him a frothing glass of
brandy and soda, which he had hurried out to prepare as soon as he saw
his master's exhausted state.

"Hah!" ejaculated Lacey, as he set down the glass and then sank into an
easy-chair.

"Your arm bad?" said the colonel, anxiously. Then to the doctor--"Will
you see to him?"

"Yes, of course," said that gentleman, who was on the alert directly.
"Come with me to your room, Lacey, my boy, and let's have a look at
you.