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Douglas, Norman, 1868-1952

"South Wind"


Which shows how a mosquito can cure an eruption.



CHAPTER XXIV


Everybody was drunk that night in honour of the Saint's bounty, though
Miss Wilberforce reached the climax of her activities at the early hour
of 4 p.m.--during the torchlight procession.
An uproar had been generated at the Club; chairs were broken, bottles
smashed, and sporting prints kicked about--all on account of a comical
but rather scurrilous speech contrasting Europe with Australasia by a
new-comer, a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, who
limped home not long afterwards with a damaged shinbone and black eye.
The more violent parties had been ejected during that incident, or
carried to their lodgings. Only about half the usual number was
left--all moderates, so far as drinking was concerned, but all more or
less screwed that day as befitted the occasion. There was the
card-table group, where Mr. Muhlen, with heightened colour in his
cheeks, was losing money in so brilliant a fashion that everyone swore
he must be on the verge of coming into a legacy or making some COUP
with a rich woman.


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