2tJU THE HUNTING FIELD 



was outrageous. He was so put about that he could not take 

 the chair at the Groom's 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 deal with Mr. 

 Milksop, therefore he saved Strutt the expense of a " rule 

 to compute " by not returning any answer to the letter. 



The showman will now change the shade, and the intelligent 

 and accommodating reader will have the kindness to accom- 

 pany us to the " Cow ■" at Dunchurch. 



It was mid-day, and Mr. Strutt was airing his little round 

 stomach before the inn door, indulging in one of his master's 

 Havannahs. The weather was still fine, rather unseasonably 

 so if anything, and Strutt, like a good servant, was also airing 

 a cut tartan velvet waistcoat of his master's, which fitted him 

 marvellously well, considering the disparity of their corpora- 

 tions. He had also a shirt with a very finely-worked front on, 

 and three diamond studs secured by a diminutive chain down 

 the middle. Altogether he looked as full of beans and con- 



