APT SCHOLARS 39 



offer ; but may I ask if they were taken within a mile 

 of this place, since I could not obtain a rise to any one 

 of my flies this whole day ? " 



" They were caught within half a mile of this house," 

 was the reply, " and in the same stream you have been 

 fishing, by two young friends of mine and yours, whom 

 you must confess to be very apt scholars under such 

 scientific instruction/' 



*' Their craft has certainly proved superior to my 

 art,*' Mr. Meyrick good-humouredly remarked, " and 

 I rejoice to find my young friends came so opportunely 

 to your ladyship's assistance, although I believe those 

 trout were not caught with a rod and line." 



" It matters little how caught," interposed Lord 



E , " since I never tasted any of finer flavour or 



in better condition ; they are nearly as pink as salmon." 



" Quite my opinion," added Sir Francis ; " and I 

 say, boys," in a low tone to us, " you may play at the 

 same game to-morrow ; but M. must not know the 

 secret, or he will be talking of foul play, and spoiling 

 legitimate sport." 



It was not our intention to enlighten our worthy 

 tutor on the means employed to capture the fish, as 

 such knowledge would have materially interfered with 

 our future progress in these unclassical pursuits ; but 

 the fact was, we were at that period two as arrant 

 young poachers as could be found in the British Isles, 

 plying our trade by day and night, as opportunity 

 occurred. 



Sir Francis was a bold and hard rider, going at every- 

 thing which came in his line, and he gave long prices 

 for his hunters. One, I remember, called Sampson, 

 cost him five hundred guineas, a dark chestnut, with 



