O'Shaughnessy--" "Ah, by-the-bye, how's the major ?" "Charmingly; only a little bit in a scrape just now.

Sir Arthur--Lord Wellington, I mean--had him up for his fellows being caught pillaging, and gave him a devil of a rowing a few days ago.
"'Very disorderly corps yours, Major O'Shaughnessy,' said the general; 'more men up for punishment than any regiment in the service.' "Shaugh muttered something; but his voice was lost in a loud cock-a-doo-do-doo, that some bold chanticleer set up at the moment.
"'If the officers do their duty, Major O'Shaughnessy, these acts of insubordination do not occur.' "'Cock-a-doo-do-doo,' was the reply.

Some of the staff found it hard not to laugh; but the general went on,-- "'If, therefore, the practice does not cease, I'll draft the men into West India regiments.' "'Cock-a-doo-do-doo.' "'And if any articles pillaged from the inhabitants are detected in the quarters, or about the person of the troops--' "'Cock-a-doo-do-_doo_,' screamed louder here than ever.
"'Damn that cock! Where is it ?' "There was a general look around on all sides, which seemed in vain; when a tremendous repetition of the cry resounded from O'Shaughnessy's coat pocket,--thus detecting the valiant major himself in the very practice of his corps.

There was no standing this: every one burst out into a peal of laughing; and Lord Wellington himself could not resist, but turned away, muttering to himself as he went, 'Damned robbers--every man of them!' while a final war-note from the major's pocket closed the interview." "Confound you, Maurice, you've always some villanous narrative or other.
You never crossed a street for shelter without making something out of it." "True this time, as sure as my name's Maurice; but the bowl is empty." "Never mind, here comes its successor.

How long can you stay among us ?" "A few days at most.