six o’clock
The _ déjeûner _ and the _ villa fête _ the water party and the rambling ride , followed each other with the bright rapidity of the final scenes in a pantomime . Each _ dama _ seemed only inspired with the ambition of giving the last ball ; and so numerous were the parties that the town really sometimes seemed illuminated . To breakfast at Twickenham , and to dine in Belgrave Square ; to hear , ' or rather to honour , half an act of an opera ; to campaign through half a dozen private balls , and to finish with a romp at the rooms , as after our wine we take a glass of liqueur ; all this surely required the courage of an Alexander and the strength of a Hercules , and , indeed , can not be achieved without the miraculous powers of a Joshua . So thought the young Duke , as with an excited mind and a whirling head he threw himself at half-past six o'clock on a couch which brought him no sleep . Yet he recovered , and with the aid of the bath , the soda , and the coffee , and all the thousand remedies which a skilful valet has ever at hand , at three o'clock on the same day he rose and dressed , and in an hour was again at the illustrious bow-window , sneering with Charles Annesley , or laughing downright with Lord Squib . The Duke of St. James gave a water party , and the astounded Thames swelled with pride as his broad breast bore on the ducal barges . St. Maurice , who was in the Guards , secured his band ; and Lord Squib , who , though it was July , brought a furred great coat , secured himself .