96 



many of his friends failed there. 



"If tlie explanation is to be in the least profitable," these are the 

 words he used, " it is absolutely impossible to tell you without 

 seeming, not only to call in question the actions of a gentleman, who, 

 to say the least, made a fearful commotion here from half-past eight 

 till half-past eleven, but also that of the official under whose direction 

 your pools are generally fished." 



This appeared to have an unusual effect. The language, though 

 measured, was convincing in substance ; the words were spoken in 

 deadly calm, and listened to in deadly calm also ; but there could be 

 no mistaking the significance which lay behind them. 



" Pray go on, never mind that," retorted his lordsliip, who in a 

 whisper to me intimated that he believed he had met a man of 

 common sense, and with a very uncommon amomit of knowledge on 

 anghng matters ; " pray go on," he repeated, " tell me just what you 

 think is wrong." 



" Very well. To place, safely, half-a-dozen men on their proper 

 pools in three miles of water is no easy undertaking, I admit ; but to 

 put a novice on a Slack, where the betting is twenty to one " 



" What ! On his catching a fish ? " 



" No. On his spoiling it for another who understands how to get 

 one ; to allow, I say, a novice to approach such water is to reveal a 

 weakness of judgment no words can express. No wonder your water 

 gives bad returns." 



" Ah," observed his lordship, " we're not up to all that here, but 

 your indictment is the more forcible bemuse it is delivered in a cool, 

 temperate, and business-like manner, free from the appearance of all 

 selfish motives. My foreman, though a good shot, is a poor fisherman ; 



