A COVERT SIDE. 79 



overclouded, and tlie south-westerly wind as soft as if 

 it were young May and not mid-winter. 



Half past nine found them in the breakfast-parlor, 

 similarly rigged in plain scarlet dress-coats, white 

 kerseymere waistcoats, white buckskin breeches, and 

 top-boots, with blue-bird's-eye handkerchiefs about 

 their necks — the true dress, and the only true one for 

 the genuine Meltonian— though a few years before the 

 time of which I write, it was the fashion to run down 

 the leathers as snobbish, and to vote nothing correct 

 but white cords— and the handsomest dress, be it ob- 

 served, in the wide world for a well-made man, whether 

 sportsman or no. 



There was no necessity under the sun for hurrying, 

 since more 3Ieltonico the hounds do not meet until 

 eleven, nor are thrown into covert until half-after, or 

 by'r lady ! nearer twelve. 



''Very well — very well, faith!" said the count, 

 laughing, as the Virginian made his entree perfectly 

 self-possessed and quiet. " You look as if you had been 

 born in pink and leathers, as I believe Osbaldiston 

 was, and Sir Tatton into the bargain, for that matter ; 

 though I would lay a hundred to a shilling you never 

 had a top-boot on your leg before in your life." 



" You may swear to that, count. But these fellows 

 get one up with no trouble to himself whatever." 



"Trust them for that," replied Matuschevitz, "with 

 Pike and Elphick for his leathers, Dean and Davis for 

 his tops, and Stultz, Willis, or Nugee for the rest of 

 his outfit, one may be pretty sure of not putting his 

 foot in it. By the w^ay, whose saddles do you use ?" 



" Whipple's, of course. I used his saddlery long 

 enough before I left Virginia, and I should hardly cut 

 him here. Give me a cup of black tea while you are 

 about it, I don't go the cafe" in a morning — some of 

 that prawn curry, Antoine, and a slice of that dry 

 toast." 



