This moment I, who had not been attending to the progress of the argument (as the denouement will show) starting suddenly up out of one of my reveries, by some unfortunate connection of ideas, which the last fatal word had excited, the devil put it into my head to turn round to the Nabob, who was sitting next me, and in a very marked manner (as it seemed to the company) to put the question to him, Pray, sir, what may be the exact value of a lack of rupees?
You may guess the confusion which followed.
_1st Lady_.

What a distressing circumstance! _2d Lady_.

To a delicate mind---- _3d Lady_.

How embarrassing---- _4th Lady_.

I declare, I quite pity you.
_1st Gent_.