THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



the ear, or soothing the imagination. This may be called an 

 eloquence for service — for wliich one great man is so distin- 

 guished — which, in fact, rejects everything that has more of 

 show than of solidity. All the speeches of Demosthenes to 

 animate the Athenians against Philip of Macedon, are in this 

 strain of vigorous and convincing oratory. In them we find 

 no empty parade of words, no affectation of ornament, no 

 sophistical reasoning. They are rich, not gaudy — brilliant, 

 not glaring — forcing their way to the mind, not by the artifice 

 of insinuation, but by the irresistible energy of truth." ' 



' Upon my word,' observed the Baronet, ' I am myself inclined 

 to think the sugar-baker would be the most useful man of the 

 two: those are good business-like ideas of his, which you have 

 just quoted.' 



' I think so too,' replied our sporting M.P., ' and wish 

 that he were in my place, and I had the money in my pocket 

 that my election will cost. It would just make my stable 

 complete.' 



' Is it not already complete ? ' observed Sir John ; ' are not 

 eight good hunters enough for you ? ' 



' Certainly not for Melton,' resumed Raby ; ' and I hope to 

 be settled there next winter, at all events the following one. 

 Nothing under a stud of twelve will do there, and I hope to 

 have fourteen. I have no idea of being seen kicking my heels 

 in Melton streets, when others are out with hounds ; and such 

 would be the case if I had a short stable of horses, with hounds 

 every day within reach.' 



' You will outrun the constable,' said the Baronet. 



' No fear,' answered Frank ; ' I shall live quietly in the 

 country in the summer, to provide for the winter campaign ; 

 and as I have given up the turf, and never play for a sixpence, 

 my income will stand the brunt.' 



' But Parliament ! ' remarked Hargrave — ' that will be a pull. 

 You must be a good deal in London.' 



' Not much of that,' replied our patriot — ' at least as little as 

 I can help. I shall leave such matters to wiser heads than 

 mine. What would my opinion be worth on the affairs of the 

 Elector of Bavaria, or the convention with Russia ? ' 



Parliament not assembling till the usual period, it did not 

 interfere with the present views of its new member, and when 

 it did meet, nothing further was heard of him than tfiat he 



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