274 THE HUNTING FIELD 



they thought, "for a civilized one," a sentence, we 

 may add, that they would have had some difficulty in 

 carrying out, seeing that no one had ever been able 

 to tell what country claimed the Captain. That case 

 had originated in much such a transaction as the 

 present — an unprincipled attempt to defraud a man 

 of his regulars. Indeed the cases were so analogous, 

 that it was agreed in consultation that unless the 

 Captain was brought to book before the horse was 

 delivered, there would be very little hope of getting 

 anything after. That impression vras quite confirmed 

 by the receipt of the Captain's reply, which did not 

 even hint at doing the "usual" or the "genteel," or 

 anything that could be construed into an acknow- 

 ledgment of vested rights. Strutt was outrageous. 

 He was so put about that he could not take the chair 

 at the Grooms' Champagne Club, which was to hold 

 its weekly meeting that night. 



Instead of going, he concocted the following letter. 

 How many he cancelled before he got one to his 

 mind, it is immaterial to say : — 



" Sir, — I beg to acknowledge your letter respectin the horse 

 which is quite satisfactory, i was not awar the honble had gone 

 so far in the matter. The honble is a very honble gent in horse- 

 dealing, but not quite up to the thing, and i am sponsible to the 

 Right Honble Lord Viscount Creamjug for the honbles safety 

 and neck and limbs and other particklars i should like to have 

 him passed by a vet, and i will thank you to send me his ped : 

 along with him. Hopin to have further dealings. — I am, Sir, 

 your respectful servant, 



"Simon Strutt, Stud Groom, Northampton. 



"To Capt George Shabbyhounde, Market Harborough." 



" P. S. The honble not being up to snuff, it may save trouble 

 if you will say what kompliment i may kalculate on, so that i 

 may kalculate the kompliment due to your groom. We wish of 

 course to be quite genteel." 



Captain Shabbyhounde was not such a fool as to 

 indulge in the " pleasures of hope " of having a second 



