58 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



fall or two, their ardour might abate, I 

 abandoned the intention, in order that 

 our field might not be diminished, or our 

 amusement curtailed. 



After a good deal of discussion, and a 

 multiplicity of suggestions, it was finally- 

 settled that a certain Monday should be 

 the day, the meeting in question having 

 been held on the previous Thursday. As 

 nothing can be done either in England or 

 France with any degree of satisfaction 

 without eating or drinking, I ventured to 

 hint to the assembled Nimrods in embryo 



that, if Monsieur B— would allow it, 



we might dine at his chateau after the 

 day's work was over ; but that the ex- 

 pense of the dinner should be defrayed by 

 the chasseurs, for it could not be per- 

 mitted that our hospitable friend should 

 be saddled with the outlay of feeding 

 some forty hungry fellows — to say no- 

 thing of the drinking. 



