A PEPPERY COLONEL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 463, 8 May 1912, Page 7

A PEPPERY COLONEL.

"On one occasion," says Anthony Trollope, in his autobiography, '"it was my duty to put a' private letter, containing bank notes, on Colonel Maberly's table. The letter was seen by the Colonel, but before it could be dealt with, he was called from the room. On his return it was gone. In the meantime I had returned to my room in the performance of some duty. When the letter was missed, I was sent for, and there I found the Colonel much moved about this letter, and a certain chief clerk, who, with a long face, was making suggestions as to the probable fate of the money. "The letter has been taken," said the Colonel, turning to me angrily, "and confound you, there has been noBody in the room but you and I !" As he spoke he thundered his fist down upon the table. "Then," said I, ."by Jove, you have- taken it !" and I also thundered my fist down — but, accidentally, not - upon the table. There was there standing a moving desk at which, I presume, it was the Colonel's habit to write, a nd on this movable desk was a large bottle :ull of ink. My fist unfortunately :arae down on the desk, and the ink at once flew up, covering the Colonel's face and shirt-front. Then it was a sight to see that senior clerk as he seized a quire of blotting paper, and rushed to the aid of tiis superior officer, striving to wipe up the ink ; and a sight also to see the Colonel, in his agony hit straight out through the blotting paper at ;he senior clerk's unoffending stomach. At that moment there came in the Colonel's private secre:ary with the letter and the money, and I was desired to go back to my room !