2 8 THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 



countryside, with the important omission of the clause 

 as to the apology. It was never discovered for an 

 absolute certainty who was " the snake in the grass " 

 on this occasion, though most of the guests formed a 

 shrewd opinion as to the identity of the reptile. 



The people who retail hunting scandal must be 

 reckoned amongst the most dangerous disguised 

 enemies of the sport. I believe that in many cases 

 they do not intend to create mischief, but I could relate 

 many instances where uialice prepense was plainly the 

 motive of the scandal. I am sorry to say that often 

 ladies are the culprits, though I am glad to record that 

 I have heard ladies put down this scandal-mongering 

 with a strong voice when it was impossible for a man 

 to utter the rebuke. Of course we must expect to find 

 what Punch calls " feline amenities " in the hunting- 

 field ; but when these feline amenities affect the prestige 

 of the Hunt they must be restrained by a strong hand, 

 if only for the reason that they destroy the social charm 

 of hunting. But I do not wish to be accused of want 

 of chivalry. When all has been said, the tittle-tattle of 

 ladies is seldom taken seriously by sensible people. 

 Let us now consider the needless friction caused by 

 men who have hunted regularly for many seasons and 

 who therefore ought to know better. 



These men have been called the " enemies within 

 the gates." They call themselves sportsmen and 

 supporters of fox-hunting. They dress the part as well 

 as London tailors can dress them : they subscribe 

 liberally to the Hunt funds, and keep open house when- 

 ever it is probable that hounds will be in their neigh- 



