A SMOKING-ROOM PALAVER 333 



ago, when Lord Stamford gave up the Quorn, Mr. 

 Clowes gave him 2,000 guineas for the hounds. One 

 of his horses fetched 520 guineas at the hammer, 

 two more 500 guineas apiece. One fetched 480 guineas, 

 while 460, 450, 420, and 400 guineas (twice) were 

 given for others, and five more went for 300 and 

 over. The price for the pack, of course, was not by 

 any means a record, as it is termed nowadays. 



" Big as some of these prices seem, they were common 

 enough in Leicestershire once on a day ; and I merely 

 mentioned them to show that if money 'makes the 

 mare to go ' she ought to have travelled faster in 

 the olden time. But horses and hounds are as good 

 as ever they were, the former as well ridden, the 

 latter as well hunted, I make no doubt, though few, 

 I fear, in comparison with the great multitudes who 

 go out take much notice of their hunting, and it is 

 there that the sport has not improved with age. 



" The wire question, of course," I added, " is the 

 one that may bring the great sport to an untimely 

 end, for the fastest of you don't seem to be able to 

 do much with that, and I imagine that £ s. d. is the 

 only solution ; but it may be (and how fervently do 

 all sportsmen desire it) ; it may be that good times 

 are nearer to the farmers than is generally imagined ; 

 that wealth will flow ' back to the land,' and the 

 farmers themselves will again become a strong com- 

 ponent of the hunting-field. Then will the wire cease 

 to be a danger, and no longer will the ancient fogies 

 sigh for the days of old." 



My young friend yawned, and the talk drifted into 

 other channels. 



