154 EXPERIENCES OF SPORT. 



sharp veal cutlets and mushrooms, a steak and 

 oyster sauce, and a hansom at a quarter to two. 

 Having given these orders I proceeded to 

 dress myself, which being accomplished to my 

 entire satisfaction, I lighted another cigarette, 

 and sat down in my ruminating chair. Before I 

 proceed any further, I may as well explain that 

 I was an idle unmarried man, addicted to sporting 

 of all sorts. My friend Debenham was the 

 same, with only this difference he disliked 

 London, which I did not, at least for a time. 

 We had been schoolfellows, and at Oxford to- 

 gether ; both were about the same height and 

 size, and could get up in the pigskin at list. 

 As I sat blowing clouds of smoke, I came to 

 the conclusion George was up to something. He 

 generally made what he called his "summer's 

 work pay for his winter's amusement," and his 

 summer's work consisted in buying a few hunters 

 and getting them ready and fit to go. These 

 as the season drew near, he usually sold well. 

 It was quite enough to know an animal was 

 Mr. Debenham's to ensure its sale ; he was so 

 well known that there was always a rush to pur- 

 chase. He would run a horse or two, and man- 



