60 A HUNTING STABLE. 



they were bred ; which title has dwindled, or increased, 

 whether of the twain you will, by transmission 

 through sundry mouths of horse-jockeys from the three 

 syllables into simple Moscow. But see, here come 

 the sorrels, duke ! Shall we be moving?" 



" And here is the Cossack, too," said Cheshire, 

 " with hair enough on his mane and tail to make all 

 the judges' wigs in England for these three hundred 

 years to come — and this trim, bang-tailed bay, for 

 your humble servant. Well, they 're all beauties in 

 their way, past all denial." 



*'The trotters, most of all," said Beaufort; "they 

 are almost perfection." 



"I thought you'd like them, duke." 



" I am glad you thought so, colonel, for you must 

 needs have thought me a mere dunce otherwise." 



" We had better be off then, or we shall keep Lord 

 Cheshire's dinner waiting, and that would not be alto- 

 gether comme ilfaut." 



"• Allons, I'm ready." 



And they started. 



