It happened that Colonel H----- was invited to a fancy ball; and it
also happened that the lady whom he particularly admired, was to be
present on the occasion. Such being the case, the most becoming
costume was to be selected for the evening. What if the locks of the
gallant colonel were slightly sprinkled with gray? He was still a
handsome man, and knew very well that the dress of an eastern
aymeer was particularly well suited to his face and figure. This dress,
preserved in a certain old trunk in the garret, was accordingly
produced. The trunk was brought down to the dressing-room, the
costume examined piece by piece, pronounced in good condition by
the valet, and declared very becoming by the military friend called in
as counsellor.
{aymeer = Emir; a Muslim title signifying commander in Arabic}
"But what a queer old box this is, H-----," said Major D-----, eyeing
the trunk through his glass.
"It's one I've had these hundred years," replied the colonel. "So you
think this trumpery will do, D-----?"
"Do? To be sure it will, my dear fellow--it gives your Milesian skin
the true Nawaub dye. But I was just trying to make out an old letter
pasted in the lid of your trunk, under my nose here. Is this the way
you preserve your family archives?"
{Milesian = slang term for Irish, from Milesius, mythical Spanish
conqueror of Ireland; Nawaub = from Nabob, Anglo-Indian slang for
one who has returned home from India with a large fortune}
"That letter is really a curiosity in its way," said the colonel, turning
from the glass and relating its history, so far at least as it was
known to himself.
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