The Duke of Gloucester. 93 



I expect an answer; let me ask you again, 

 Ilow many falls do you get in a season?" 

 ^' Twenty, or more." ^^ Twenty !" cried the 

 Duke, and raising his eyes with a sort of 

 devout expression, ^^ thank God I'm not a fox- 

 hunter !" which was followed by a roar of 

 laughter from the company, Assheton Smith 

 especially. 



Mr. Smith again met his Eoyal Highness 

 when he was shooting at Mr. Pearce's, of Chil- 

 ton Lodge. Of course the Duke was placed 

 where the best shooting was likely to be : he 

 was constantly firing, and a fair number of 

 head appeared on the ground at the fiinish. 

 After the ladies had left the dining-room, the 

 keeper was sent for to state the number of 

 birds ; and on Mr. Pearce remarking, " Why, 

 that is six more pheasants than we had 

 reckoned," the reply was, '^ Yes, sir; but we 

 have since found six more that His Eoyal 

 Highness shot at." To those who knew 

 what an execrable shot he was, the '^ Aah ! 



