CAPTAIN SHABBYHOUNDE 281 



The Captain's acute mind on hearing Job Tod's 

 laconic account of what had passed, saw there was a 

 chance which, industrious as he was, he determined 

 not to throw away. Accordingly he addressed the 

 following letter to Mr. Milksop, and sent it in a 

 parcel by the next " up " coach to Northampton, 

 where Mr. Milksop had to sleep : 



''(Private and Confidential.) 



" DEAR SIR, My groom having just reported to me that 

 your servant Strutt was very dissatisfied on the delivery of 

 Lambkin, it has just occurred to me that it is possible he may 

 play some tricks with the horse so as to prejudice you against 

 him, and I therefore think it due to myself to give you this hint 

 on the subject. His dissatisfaction, I imagine, arises from my 

 not complying with a most absurd custom of tipping him because 

 you bought my horse, a system too much pursued, I am sorry 

 to say, by parties with lame or inferior horses, in order to get 

 the servants' good word with their masters. That is a system 

 that has always been strenuously opposed by, 



' ' My dear Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, 

 "GEORGE SHABBYHOUNDE, 



" To the Hon. Julius Milksop, " Market Harborough. 



Northampton." 



There never was a more perfect master-stroke of 

 policy than that of the Captain. Generally speaking, 

 it is a foolish, thankless office, giving a man a hint 

 about a servant ; but in the Captain's case it was a 

 dashing venture where he could not lose. Besides 

 we have already stated that Strutt had cause of dis- 

 satisfaction with his master, who had shown certain 

 rebellious symptoms, all inclining towards having 

 more of his own way; and of course what was 

 unpalatable to the man, would not be altogether 

 lost upon the master. In truth, Strutt did not 

 accommodate his carefulness of the boy, to the 

 growing independence of the man, and Mr. Milksop 

 had once or twice gone out of his way rather to let 

 Strutt see that he was not to have the upper hand. 

 The Captain's hint, therefore, was not likely to be 



