marriage. I feared, too, that my friend Curzon had placed himself in
very unfortunate hands--if augury were to be relied upon. Something will
surely happen, thought I, from my confounded ill luck, and all will be
blown up. Wearied at last with thinking I fell into a sound sleep for
about three-quarters of an hour, at the end of which I was awoke by my
servant informing me that a chaise and four were drawn up at the end of
the barrack lane.

"Why, surely, they are too early, Stubber? It's only four o'clock."

"Yes, sir; but they say that the road for eight miles is very bad, and
they must go it almost at a walk."

That is certainly pleasant, thought I, but I'm in for it now, so can't
help it.

In a few minutes I was up and dressed, and so perfectly transformed by
the addition of a brown scratch-wig and large green spectacles, and a
deep-flapped waistcoat, that my servant, on re-entering my room, could
not recognise me. I followed him now across the barrack-yard, as, with
my pistol-case under one arm and a lantern in his hand, he proceeded to
the barrack-gate.

As I passed beneath the adjutant's window, I saw a light--the sash was
quickly thrown open, and Curzon appeared.

"Is that you, Harry?"

"Yes--when do you start?"