AN ORIGINAL MANCEUVRE i6i 



finding it impossible to dispose of his hounds at any 

 price, or even give them away, turned the lot adrift into 

 the home preserve of this money-made proprietor, and 

 there left them, slipping away himself through a by-road 

 which passed close to the covert. This manoeuvre was 

 accomplished about nine o'clock in the morning, when 

 the novus homo was performing his ablutions in his 

 dressing-room, which commanded a view of his pet 

 preserve ; and great was his astonishment on beholding 

 the hares scudding about in all directions, pursued by 

 two or three couples of hounds, with their melodious 

 voices echoing through the window at which he stood. 

 A violent pull at the bell followed, on which his French 

 valet rushed up stairs, thinking his master had been 

 taken suddenly ill. 



" Francois," exclaimed the master in a furious passion, 

 " what the devil are all those dogs driving the hares out 

 of the home-wood ? " 



" Me not know, sare — see no dog, sare." 

 *' Then come here, you fool — do you see them now ? " 

 " Ah ! — out — une grande chasse de lievres." 

 " Hang your liver — don't stand grinning and grimacing 

 there like an infernal French monkey, but send for my 

 head keeper this instant — aU my keepers — quick, 

 begone ! " 



Downstairs rushed the valet, and in a few minutes, 

 huddling on his clothes, the great man himself hurried 

 down also, where he found the head keeper in hot haste 

 already arrived, to know his master's pleasure in reference 

 to these unwelcome visitors. 



" What's to be done with them, your honour ? " 

 inquired Killfox. 



*' Shoot every dog instantly ! " 



