A CONTEST. 179 



" And my servant tells me you won't 

 go out of the house without it is it so ? " 



" No, I won't, Sir Peter." 



Then, taking some silver out of his waist- 

 coat pocket, and counting out the stipulated 

 sum, he put it on the dresser. 



" Now, they call you the Fighting But- 

 cher, do they not ? " enquired the Baronet ; 

 and, upon the. man's answering in the 

 affirmative, added " Then take off your 

 coat, and if you are a better man than me 

 you shall have it not without." 



The butcher, nothing loth, did as he was 

 told. 



" Get you girls out of the kitchen ? " 

 said their master. " Where's Stephen ? " 



Stephen, who was his fides Achates as 

 well as his gamekeeper, and was always 

 in attendance, the first thing at morning 

 and the last thing at night, answered for 

 himself. 



"Put the chairs and tables out of the 

 way, and go down in the cellar and get 



N2 



