THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



didn't believe in claret — and abused him behind his back. 

 They egged him on to do everything they wished for them- 

 selves, carefully omitting to pay their own share of the shot ; 

 considering, doubtless, that their distinguished company 

 would be ample repayment in itself. 



And now, with last week's Fidel before him, Septimus 

 Binkie, Esq., put the tips of his fingers together, his elbows 

 resting comfortably on the arms of his chair, and perused, 

 through gold-rimmed spectacles, the following fascinating 

 advertisement — 



TO BE LET OR SOLD.— An old-fashioned, stone-built 

 mansion, known as The Chase, surrounded by a moat, 

 situate in the centre of the Duke of Haughtyshire's hunt. 

 This commodious and highly eligible residence is approached 

 by a long carriage-drive, bordered with noble oak trees, 

 with lodge at entrance gates ; contains twenty bed and 

 dressing-rooms, with usual ofifices, four handsome reception- 

 rooms, large entrance hall, etc., etc., etc. 



Thus the alluring announcement ran on, whilst reserved, 

 as a tit-bit, for the finish, came ' Stabling for upwards of 

 twenty horses.' 



" Ha-hum," observed the ex-tallow-chandler, dryshaving 

 his chin as he was always wont to do when in any doubt or 

 perplexity. " Ha-hum, I wonder now if the house would suit, 

 or be too big ? ' In the Duke of Haughtyshire's country ' 

 it says. Wonder if His Grace would call ? " 



Seeing her lord in that state of uncertainty in which she 

 had always found him most malleable, Mrs. Binkie put down 

 the crochet she was doing, got up and walked across the 

 room to his side. Her quick eye soon fixed itself on the 

 advertisement, and taking the Fidel she perused the par- 



