THE DUKE AS MASTER 



" Cleopatra, 

 " Approaching Thebes, about lOO miles from, 

 " December 6th, 1 863. 

 " Cooper, — 



" I have received and am much obh'ged to you for your 

 letter of the 9th. The thermometer is now 107 in the sun 

 and 84 in the shade ; too hot for anything ! How much I 

 wish I was back in Leicestershire, though I could not hunt, 

 which partly reconciles me. I am not worse, but I do not 

 think I am any better. If heat would cure one, I should 

 be. 



" You seem to have had very bad weather, and to have 

 found plenty of foxes, but not to have had much sport. 



" Yesterday I saw a crocodile, and tracked an hyena on the 

 sand. 



" I hope when we get to Thebes I may find another letter 

 from you, giving a good account of yourself and the hounds. 



" I remain, yours, etc., 



" Rutland." 



"Cleopatra, Beni Hassan, 



"January i6th, 1864. 

 " Cooper, — 



" I have received your letter of the 29th of November, for 

 which I am much obliged to you. On the i6th at Harlaxton 

 you must have had a good day's sport ; the fine run from 

 Tipping's Gorse must have been very good, and the fifty 

 minutes afterwards also very brilliant. On the 17th the 

 thirty-five minutes from Folkingham must have been very 

 good. I have also heard from Mr. G. Drummond, describing a 

 run from Granby Gap, in which you probably killed a fox we 

 hunted late in the evening last season. I am sorry to hear of 

 the fox being found dead near Coston Gorse. I should think 



M is the culprit. 



" I think I am rather stronger, and walk better, but the 

 twitchings still continue. Till you hear to the contrary, will 

 you address your letters to ' Poste Restante, Naples ' ? 



257 S 



