136 THE TROUT ARE RISING 



I left it at that ; and went on fishing. One even- 

 ing the sea-trout were moving, and I was getting 

 sport. Just as I had landed a sea-trout, two 

 gentlemen came to the bank. " Nice fish this," 

 said I. " Yes," said they. One of them seemed 

 particularly interested. Courteous, polished, dis- 

 tinguished-looking, he seemed like an ambassador 

 on holiday, staying at a country house, perhaps, 

 and just out for a walk. No doubt the gentleman 

 with him was his private secretary. I spoke most 

 respectfully to them, but as the sea-trout were still 

 showing 1 was in hopes of increasing the bag, I 

 started casting again, when a chill came over the 

 proceedings. 



The distinguished-looking one said : " Would 

 you mind showing me your licence, sir ? " (a 

 slight variant on the usual formula). 



" Certainly," said I, calmly producing the half- 

 crown permit to fish for a week. " Here it is." 



He glanced at it. A touch of the autocrat 

 entered into his bearing as he said : "Oh, this is 

 not enough I This is merely a permit to fish from 

 a gentleman's land. You ought to have a sea-trout 

 licence ! Ton have just caught a sea-lrout ! " 



As, only a minute ago, I had triumphantly 

 exhibited a sea-trout in his august presence, this 

 last statement of his was indisputable. It would 

 be first-rate evidence in the police court. Visions 

 of standing in the dock, answering to a charge 

 of " in that he wilfully and maliciously ..." 

 floated before my mind ; and there would be 

 nothing for it but to plead guilty. 



