Picton's much too grave,--never likes a joke." CHARGE No.

11 .-- For insubordination and disobedience, in refusing to give up his sword, and rendering it necessary for the Portuguese guard to take it by force,--thereby placing himself in a situation highly degrading to a British officer.
"Didn't I lay about me before they got it! Who's that?
Who's laughing there?
Ah, boys, I'm glad to see you! How are you, Fred?
Well, Charley, I've heard of your scrape; very sad thing for so young a fellow as you are.
I don't think you'll be broke; I'll do what I can.

I'll see what I can do with Picton; we are very old friends, were at Eton together." "Many thanks, Major; but I hear your own affairs are not flourishing.
What's all this court-martial about ?" "A mere trifle; some little insubordination in the legion.

Those Portuguese are sad dogs.

How very good of you, Fred, to think of that little supper." While the major was speaking, his servant, with a dexterity the fruit of long habit, had garnished the table with the contents of our baskets, and Monsoon, apologizing for not putting on his wig, sat down among us with a face as cheerful as though the floor was not covered with the charges of the court-martial to be held on him.
As we chatted away over the campaign and its chances, Monsoon seemed little disposed to recur to his own fortunes.