92 Memoir of Tom Smith. 



iLOunds should be led towards it. As it hap- 

 pened, the fox did lead that way, and Mr. 

 Smith felt obliged to keep close to the hounds, 

 so that he might stop them if necessary. It 

 was the end of October, and the ditches were 

 full of grass ; so he got two or three falls, one 

 of them being in full view of the shooters, 

 who had collected at one spot on hearing the 

 hounds. The fox was killed in the open, and 

 Mr. Smith was in time for dinner at Totten- 

 ham. He was seated nearly opposite the royal 

 Duke, who addressed him with, ^' I hope you 

 were not hurt when you had a fall to-day." 

 His reply was, that he did not know which 

 fall was alluded to. The Duke then said, 

 "Pray, sir, if you have had several falls in 

 one day, how many do you get in a whole 

 season?" This appeared too absurd to need 

 any reply, and he endeavoured to evade an 

 answer by turning to his neighbour, when he 

 was startled by the Duke saying, in a loud 

 peremptory tone, " Sir, when I ask a question. 



