Mr Winkle was asleep, and Mr Tupman had had sufficient experience in such matters to know that the moment he awoke he would, in the ordinary course of nature, roll heavily to bed. He was undecided. 'Fill your glass, and pass the wine,' said the indefatigable visitor.

Mr Tupman did as he was requested; and the additional stimulus of the last glass settled his determination. 'Winkle's bedroom is inside mine,' said Mr Tupman; 'I couldn't make him understand what I wanted, if I woke him now, but I know he has a dress-suit in a carpet bag; and supposing you wore it to the ball, and took it off when we returned, I could replace it without troubling him at all about the matter.'

'Capital,' said the stranger, 'famous plan - damned odd situation - fourteen coats in the suitcases, and obliged to wear another man's - very good notion, that - very.'

'We must purchase our tickets,' said Mr Tupman. 'Not worthwhile splitting a guinea,' said the stranger, 'Toss who shall pay for both. I call; you spin - first time - woman - woman - bewitching woman,' and down came the sovereign with the dragon (called by courtesy a woman) uppermost.