THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 183 



diction is worse than useless in such 

 cases ; and as I make it a point to humour 

 every one to the top of their bent, I (to 

 borrow an elegant expression from Lord 

 Duberly) " always sit mum chance," and 

 let the self-satisfied gentlemen expatiate 

 ad libitum on the merits of their several 

 nonpareils. 



For fear I may be accused of falling 

 into a similar error, I will content myself 

 by saying that I believe I once had as 

 good guns and as good dogs as any pri- 

 vate gentleman in her Majesty's domi- 

 nions. 



I have remarked that the top-sawyers 

 in the gun trade charge too high a 

 price for their first-rate doubles, but that 

 Mr. Westley Richards is an exception. 

 The price demanded by the Mantons, 

 Purdey, Moore, &c., is somewhat about 

 fifty-four pounds, and sometimes rather 

 more. This is their hooking charge. Now, 



