240 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



ley's acquaintance, without requiring Mr. De Ville to 

 examine his pericranium, which Mr. De Ville would 

 himself most probably decline to experiment upon, at 

 least on the cranium of a living specimen. 



I had once the folly to submit my own caput to the 

 manipulations of this professor of the occult science of 

 craniology, more for the satisfaction of a country friend — 

 or acquaintance rather ; for friends are rarce aves in all 

 times, if you except the worshippers of Mammon, who 

 stick close enough to a man as long as he is well to do 

 in the world. Those two lines, which, as a boy at school 

 I read in my Delectus, have often struck me in after 

 life, as showing how true an estimate the Latin poet 

 had formed of human nature, as applicable to all ages : — 



" Donee eris felix multos numerabis amicos ; 

 Tempera si fuerint nubila solus eris," 



which, for the benefit of those who are not acquainted 

 with such lingo, may be translated thus : — 



" Whilst sunshine lasts, you will count many noses, 

 But when dark clouds arise the street-door closes." 



** Not at home. Sir," when, having seen your friend enter 

 his house in Grosvenor Square, you hasten to catch him 

 at home. Knocking at the door, the powdered lacquey 

 makes his appearance. You inquire if your friend Mr. 

 Nemo is within. "Not at home. Sir," is the answer. 

 " Why, I saw him enter only a minute ago." Still the 

 same stiff denial, " Not at home. Sir." How forcibly 

 do those beautiful lines of Lord Byron occur to me as 

 the truest though most severe censure ever passed on 

 boasting mankind : — 



