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He was seen lighting his cigar with one； to the horror of
Captain Dobbin； who； it is my belief； would have given
a bank…note for the document。
For some time George strove to keep the liaison a
secret。 There was a woman in the case； that he admitted。
〃And not the first either；〃 said Ensign Spooney to Ensign
Stubble。 〃That Osborne's a devil of a fellow。 There was a
judge's daughter at Demerara went almost mad about
him； then there was that beautiful quadroon girl； Miss
Pye； at St。 Vincent's； you know； and since he's been
home； they say he's a regular Don Giovanni； by Jove。〃
Stubble and Spooney thought that to be a 〃regular
Don Giovanni； by Jove〃 was one of the finest qualities a
man could possess； and Osborne's reputation was
prodigious amongst the young men of the regiment。 He
was famous in field…sports； famous at a song； famous on
parade； free with his money； which was bountifully
supplied by his father。 His coats were better made than
any man's in the regiment； and he had more of them。 He
was adored by the men。 He could drink more than any
officer of the whole mess； including old Heavytop； the
colonel。 He could spar better than Knuckles； the private
（who would have been a corporal but for his drunkenness；
and who had been in the prize…ring）； and was the best
batter and bowler； out and out； of the regimental club。
He rode his own horse； Greased Lightning； and won the
Garrison cup at Quebec races。 There were other people
besides Amelia who worshipped him。 Stubble and
Spooney thought him a sort of Apollo； Dobbin took him
to be an Admirable Crichton； and Mrs。 Major O'Dowd
acknowledged he was an elegant young fellow； and put
her in mind of Fitzjurld Fogarty； Lord Castlefogarty's
second son。
Well； Stubble and Spooney and the rest indulged in
most romantic conjectures regarding this female
correspondent of Osborne'sopining that it was a Duchess in
London who was in love with himor that it was a
General's daughter； who was engaged to somebody else；
and madly attached to himor that it was a Member of
Parliament's lady； who proposed four horses and an
elopementor that it was some other victim of a passion
delightfully exciting； romantic； and disgraceful to all
parties； on none of which conjectures would Osborne throw
the least light； leaving his young admirers and friends to
invent and arrange their whole history。
And the real state of the case would never have been
known at all in the regiment but for Captain Dobbin's
indiscretion。 The Captain was eating his breakfast one
day in the mess…room； while Cackle； the assistant…surgeon；
and the two above…named worthies were speculating upon
Osborne's intrigueStubble holding out that the lady
was a Duchess about Queen Charlotte's court； and Cackle
vowing she was an opera…singer of the worst reputation。
At this idea Dobbin became so moved； that though his
mouth was full of eggs and bread…and…butter at the time；
and though he ought not to have spoken at all； yet he
couldn't help blurting out； 〃Cackle； you're a stupid fool。
You're always talking nonsense and scandal。 Osborne is
not going to run off with a Duchess or ruin a milliner。
Miss Sedley is one of the most charming young women
that ever lived。 He's been engaged to her ever so long；
and the man who calls her names had better not do so
in my hearing。〃 With which； turning exceedingly red；
Dobbin ceased speaking； and almost choked himself with
a cup of tea。 The story was over the regiment in half…an…
hour； and that very evening Mrs。 Major O'Dowd wrote
off to her sister Glorvina at O'Dowdstown not to hurry
from Dublinyoung Osborne being prematurely engaged
already。
She complimented the Lieutenant in an appropriate
speech over a glass of whisky…toddy that evening； and he
went home perfectly furious to quarrel with Dobbin （who
had declined Mrs。 Major O'Dowd's party； and sat in his
own room playing the flute； and； I believe； writing poetry
in a very melancholy manner）to quarrel with Dobbin
for betraying his secret。
〃Who the deuce asked you to talk about my affairs？〃
Osborne shouted indignantly。 〃Why the devil is all the
regiment to know that I am going to be married？ Why is
that tattling old harridan； Peggy O'Dowd； to make free
with my name at her dd supper…table； and advertise
my engagement over the three kingdoms？ After all； what
right have you to say I am engaged； or to meddle in my
business at all； Dobbin？〃
〃It seems to me；〃 Captain Dobbin began。
〃Seems be hanged； Dobbin；〃 his junior interrupted
him。 〃I am under obligations to you； I know it； a dd
deal too well too； but I won't be always sermonised by
you because you're five years my senior。 I'm hanged if
I'll stand your airs of superiority and infernal pity and
patronage。 Pity and patronage！ I should like to know in
what I'm your inferior？〃
〃Are you engaged？〃 Captain Dobbin interposed。
〃What the devil's that to you or any one here if I am？〃
〃Are you ashamed of it？〃 Dobbin resumed。
〃What right have you to ask me that question； sir？ I
should like to know；〃 George said。
〃Good God； you don't mean to say you want to break
off？〃 asked Dobbin； starting up。
〃In other words； you ask me if I'm a man of honour；〃
said Osborne； fiercely； 〃is that what you mean？ You've
adopted such a tone regarding me lately that I'm
if I'll bear it any more。〃
〃What have I done？ I've told you you were neglecting
a sweet girl； George。 I've told you that when you go to
town you ought to go to her； and not to the gambling…
houses about St。 James's。〃
〃You want your money back； I suppose；〃 said George；
with a sneer。
〃Of course I doI always did； didn't I？〃 says Dobbin。
〃You speak like a generous fellow。〃
〃No； hang it； William； I beg your pardon〃here
George interposed in a fit of remorse； 〃you have been my
friend in a hundred ways； Heaven knows。 You've got me
out of a score of scrapes。 When Crawley of the Guards
won that sum of money of me I should have been done
but for you： I know I should。 But you shouldn't deal so
hardly with me； you shouldn't be always catechising me。
I am very fond of Amelia； I adore her； and that sort of
thing。 Don't look angry。 She's faultless； I know she is。
But you see there's no fun in winning a thing unless you
play for it。 Hang it： the regiment's just back from the
West Indies； I must have a little fling； and then when I'm
married I'll reform； I will upon my honour； now。 AndI
sayDobdon't be angry with me； and I'll give you a
hundred next month； when I know my father will stand
something handsome； and I'll ask Heavytop for leave；
and I'll go to town； and see Amelia to…morrowthere
now； will that satisfy you？〃
〃It is impossible to be long angry with you； George；〃
said the good…natured Captain； 〃and as for the money；
old boy； you know if I wanted it you'd share your last
shilling with me。〃
〃That I would； by Jove； Dobbin；〃 George said； with
the greatest generosity； though by the way he never had
any money to spare。
〃Only I wish you had sown those wild oats of yours；
George。 If you could have seen poor little Miss Emmy's
face when she asked me about you the other