the noise in
the dancing-room, the Colonel rose from his chair with his little red
eyes glowing like coals, and, with rather an unsteady gait advanced
towards Blanche, who was sipping her ice. She was absorbed in absorbing
it, for it was very fresh and good; or she was not curious to know what
was going on in the adjoining room, although the waiters were, who ran
after Chevalier Strong. So that when she looked up from her glass, she
beheld this strange man staring at her out of his little red eyes. "Who
was he? It was quite exciting."

"And so you're Betsy Amory," said he, after gazing at her. "Betsy Amory,
by Jove!"

"Who--who speaks to me?" said Betsy, alias Blanche.

But the noise in the ballroom is really becoming so loud, that we must
rush back thither, and see what is the cause of the disturbance.

CHAPTER XXVIII. Which is both Quarrelsome and Sentimental

Civil war was raging, high words passing, people pushing and squeezing
together in an unseemly manner, round a window in the corner of
the ballroom, close by the door through which the Chevalier Strong
shouldered his way. Through the opened window, the crowd in the street
below was sending up sarcastic remarks, such as "Pitch into him!"
"Where's the police?" and the like; and a ring of individuals, amongst
whom Madame Fribsby was conspicuous, was gathered round Monsieur
Alcide Mirobolant on the one side; whilst several gentlemen and ladies
surrounded our friend Arthur Pendennis on the other. Strong penetrated
into this assembly, elbowing by Madame Fribsby, who was charmed at the
Chevalier's appearance, and cried, "Save him, save him!" in frantic and
pathetic accents.

The cause of the disturbance, it appeared, was the angry little chef of
Sir Francis Clavering's culinary establishment. Shortly after Strong had
quitted the room, and whilst Mr. Pen, greatly irate at his downfall in
the waltz, which had made him look ridiculous in the eyes of the nation,
and by Miss Amory's behaviour to him, which had still further insulted
his dignity, was endeavouring to get some coolness of body and temper,
by looking out of window towards the sea, which was sparkling in the
distance, and murmuring in a wonderful calm--whilst he was really trying
to compose himself, and owning to himself, perhaps, that he had acted in
a very absurd and peevish manner during the night--he felt a hand upon
his shoulder; and, on looking round, beheld, to his utter surprise and
horror