LIFE OF MYTTON. 43 



returning from the town with a sum of money he had 

 just received from the agent. The man had boasted 

 that no one should ever rob liim ; but on Mytton 

 suddenly putting a pistol to his head by the green 

 gates, he meekly gave up both the money and his 

 watch. Mytton was fond of, as well as very good 

 at, disguising himself, in wlich way he played off 

 another trick on the butler. Strolling one summer's 

 evening about his grounds, he came across a beggar 

 who was taking his road up to the house. The 

 Squire at once proposed that they should exchange 

 clothes, or, at least, their outer garments, and the 

 other being naturally nothing loath, the metamor- 

 phosis was quickly completed. Bidding the man stay 

 where he was, and with a tattered hat han-jinof over 

 his eyes, and otherwise capitally got-up, he returned 

 to the Hall, where but a few minutes previously he 

 had been seen sitting at the dinner-table. Here he 

 begged in vain of his own servants ; they only jeered 

 at him ; but, at length, on his asking for something 

 to drink, they offered him the dregs of a barrel, 

 which he indignantly refused. " You fare too well," 

 said he, " and get saucy in your places, or you, who 

 can have so much eood wholesome beer whenever 

 you choose, would never give a fellow-creature such 



