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Paul, who was at that instant bending all the force of his mind upon Captain MacMadden, and punching his head in visioned combat, turned on him with a passionate 'Damn your impertinence, sir! which set the startled gentleman agape with wonder.
'A bit, said the doctor; 'enough to justify those gloomy hopes of yours. Paul hung his head in a transient shame, and murmured that he was sorry. 'Pooh, pooh! cried the doctor; 'you're all right now. You can bear to hear a little bit of news about the lady? 'Yes, said Paul, 'anything. 'She's married, said the doctor 'married to the Honourable Captain MacMadden, and has left the stage.
His work was over early, for he had nothing to do after the opening of the third act of the piece then playing. He would dress and wait in his room, and wonder whether that idiot, that dolt and fool incomparable, Captain the Honourable John MacMadden, was waiting at the stage-door. Captain MacMadden belonged to the Household Brigade, and was a bachelor of five-and-thirty.
'His essences turn the live air sick, and 'that oiled and curled Assyrian bull, smelling of musk and of insolence. And it happened one night that Captain MacMadden, arriving late, and in a mighty hurry and flutter lest he should have missed the lady, tapped Paul upon the shoulder, and said: 'My boy, can you tell me if Miss Belmont has left the theatre?
At this instant Claudia pushed through the swinging door which led from the stage to the corridor, and she ran in between the belligerent Paul and the object of his rage. 'What is this? she asked. 'This gentleman, said Paul, 'is sadly in want of a lesson in good-breeding. I shall be happy to offer him one. 'Upon my word, returned Captain MacMadden mildly, 'you're devilish peppery.
Then the rumble of a lonely hansom, a slippery stoppage of a horse's feet, and Claudia's voice crying, 'Two doors higher up. Then a renewed motion, a pause, the scrape of a latchkey at the lock, and Paul was on his feet, candlestick in hand. 'Mayn't I come in? asked the hateful voice of Captain MacMadden. 'On'y a moment, upon my word. 'Certainly not, Claudia answered curtly. 'Good-night.
But so discreet was that lady, and so careful of her good report, that Captain MacMadden never came without a guardian dragon in the person of another young lady of the theatres, who was accompanied by a gentleman who was in all points tailored and barbered and gloved and booted like Captain MacMadden himself.
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