268 AN ANGLER'S SEASON 



" Claret, gentlemen," he was saying. 



Cases of stuffed birds and set-up 

 fish, three or four stags' heads, the head 

 of a Highland bull, bows and arrows, 

 a flintlock gun, pistols, and other 

 things which I could not take in at 

 the moment, decorated the three other 

 walls. 



" I ha'e no particular objection to other 

 wines, or even to spirits ; but I like claret 

 for sentimental reasons, which are the 

 only reasons that are always satisfactory. 

 Claret is the wine that our forebears liked 

 and thrived on." 



A table in the middle of the room was 

 strewn with daily journals, weekly reviews, 

 and monthly magazines. 



Peter had handed round the plenished 

 tumblers. 



"Gentlemen, The King!" said he; 

 and, still sitting, each of us raised his glass. 

 Peter lowered his, saying, 



" It is customary to rise when a toast 

 to the King is called." 



Bismarck and I arose, with conscious 



