A DAY WITH THE DUKE 69 



than ordinary interest to the versions I was to 

 hear, knowing they would be varied. The ladies 

 had already thrashed out every minute of the day 

 at the tea-table, in their bed-rooms, and at dinner, 

 but were delighted to be invited into the smoke- 

 room at ten o'clock for a further palaver. 



My initial question of where the fox was found 

 was completely ignored, and the line of talk taken 

 and followed consisted mostly of interjections as to 

 what each had seen the other do. 



'' Did you have a very awkward post and rail in 

 a corner ? " 



" Did you see me jump the drop ? " 



*' How did my mare do the double ? " 



" Didn't Mrs. Black's horse peck badly there ? " 



These were questions fired off by Miss Anstruther 

 to Florence with such startling rapidity as almost to 

 preclude reply. 



" Where was the double ? " I ventured to ask. 



" Oh, just after we crossed a muddy lane, and 

 through a gate, along a grass field, over a horrid 

 little trappy fence into a sticky plough, not far from 

 the donkey," was the enlightening reply, reeled off, 

 amid laughter, without a pause, by the eager lady. 



This one feature of the donkey seemed to be promi- 

 nent in the recollection of all, and served as a basis 

 comparative for time and locality. 



It seemed hounds had checked for a minute or 

 two behind some farm buildings, and on recovering 

 the line and throwing their tongues, a donkey in 

 an orchard adjoining had lifted up his voice and 

 brayed loudly. 



So it was, " Captain Stone fell before the donkey." 



