AN OLD ANECDOTE. 151 



would venture to say an offensive word to 

 Fearon. 



" You must see that very tall man on the black ; 

 that is a stranger here ; Captain Oliver, one of the 

 most gentlemanly men and best riders in his 

 own or any other country; he is a guest at the 

 barracks. 



" I conclude you know that short firm-built 

 man on that wicked looking bay mare."^ 

 ^' Indeed I do not/^ said my friend. 

 " What/^ cried I, " not know the Captain; where 

 on earth was you born ? You remind me of an old 

 anecdote of the once celebrated Backhouse. Before 

 gas was in use he was a link-boy at the theatre 

 doors, a vocation now uncalled for. He one evening 

 asked a gentleman for sixpence for lighting his 

 party from their carriage. ^ Please, sir, remember 

 Buckey.^ — ^AVho the deuce is Buckey?^ said the 

 gentleman, probably not much used to London 

 characters. ^ Why, donH you know Buckey ?^ said 

 the link-carrier. — ^ No, upon my soul, I do not,^ 

 replied the other. ^ Then you^re no gentleman, 

 I^m sure,^ said Buckey, looking at him with sove- 

 reign contempt. I do not say this of you ; but I 

 should almost say, if you do not know the Captain, 

 ^ you^re no sportsman.^ That individual is no other 

 than the celebrated ]Mr. or Captain Beecher, whose 

 name, conjointly with that of Vivian, will live in the 

 memory of every sportsman while memory lasts. 



L 4 



