A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 223 



giving a thought that such an animal might be 

 there. 



" He looked very grave, and said, ' Sir, we 

 shall see/ and left the room, closing the door 

 behind him. 



" Well, thought I, this is a pretty state of 

 affairs and finale to my day's sport, and ten to one 

 I shall be presently served with a proces verbal. 

 I remained nearly half-an-hour cogitating and 

 thinking what a fool I had been not to have 

 looked before I shot. 



"At last the count entered, saying, ' Mon- 

 sieur, will you have the kindness to follow me ?' 

 " I did so, and he presently ushered me into 

 the drawing-room, which was filled with his 

 company, and some devilish pretty girls, I can 

 tell you, en grande tenue. They were all look- 

 ing at me, and were evidently prepared for what 

 was coming. 



" ' My friends/ said the count, ' this is an 

 English gentleman who came to me this morn- 

 ing, asking permission to shoot over my estate, 

 which permission I gave, expressing at the same 

 time a hope that he would shoot none of the chev- 

 reuil, as I was to hunt them to-morrow, and to 



