296 THE COJMPLETE SPORTSMAN 



and this he succeeded in doing by ajSixing to 

 his hat a luggage-label inscribed with the words 

 " Smallpox Patient," and gibbering at the 

 window with his nose pressed against the glass 

 whenever anybody approached the carriage. 

 _ Potential fellow- 



passengers were thus 

 warned of the in- 

 advisability of travel- 

 ling mth an infectious 

 maniac, and made no 

 effort to disturb his 

 solitude. 



When at last the 

 train reached Water- 

 loo my uncle was 

 lucky enough to 

 J-3 secure the services 

 of a discreet and 

 kindly porter, who, 

 for a small considera- 

 tion, consented to 

 lend him his own corduroy trousers. Attired in 

 these unbecoming garments, the unhappy legis- 

 lator hastened in a taxi to the House of Commons, 

 arriving just in time to hear the division bells 

 ringing. Negotiations with the porter had greatly 

 delayed him, and he entered the House in a pant- 

 ing and excited condition. When, therefore, a 



