CHAPTER XX. 



A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE THE OLD 



COLONEL'S STORY. 



;E were one evening more than asto- 

 nished to see my father, an old 

 man over seventy, put in an ap- 

 pearance ; he had come over to see what his 

 hopefuls were at. A famous sportsman he 

 had been in his day. I need hardly say we 

 were more than delighted to see him, and soon 

 arranged for his accommodation. As we sat 

 in our snug little crib, after dinner, " Harry/' 

 said he, " mix me a glass of hot whiskey and 

 water ; not Bob's three-quarter stuff, but a mild 

 one ; and I'll tell you a story." 



I did so, and, having lit our pipes, composed 



