out of his way to avoid the lady of his heart. In fact, he wrapped 

 himself in obscurity, and killed time by attacking with much skill, 

 passages of Spohr and other classical composers on a " Strad," sweet 

 in tone and of untold value. 



But though his ability as a musician surpassed that of the average 

 professional — besides his violin he had a remarkable tenor voice — 

 only those whom he constantly and lavishly entertained at his distant 

 fishing establishment, realised the fact that his knowledge on angling 

 matters equalled, if it did not excel, that of any other mortal living. 



The writer once had the privilege of seeing this gentleman closely 

 engaged at the riverside. On that memorable occasion, he not only 

 demonstrated in a wonderful manner the niceties of the fisherman's 

 craft, but in the evening, having obtained by a quaint coincidence, the 

 consent of the lady he wished to marry, he amazed the room by 

 insisting, with characteristic shyness, on the ceremony taking place in 

 private. 



The tale is, however, profoundly instructive, not without humour, 

 and yet, alas, deeply tinged with pathos. But perhaps certain details 

 should be given in order that the student may fully appreciate the 

 conditions under which the actual achievements occurred. 



One word to begin with. 



To sit in some pleasant place, cither bower or bothy, within the 

 hearing of rapid waters and splash of salmon ; to be in the 

 genial company of some painstaking student, ever ready for a few 

 hints as to the best method of overcoming a stubborn fish, has always 

 been the delight, in fact, one might almost say the highest privilege, 

 of the professed exponent of the art, who, notwithstanding that he 

 displays the practical side of his nature in having a necessary stock 



