164 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



sure of appearing on Thursday. There's no saying where he may 

 finish with a cross-roads' meet." 



By the time the worthies had finished the bottle, they had got 

 a certain way into each other's confidence. The hint Lord 

 Scamperdale had given about buying Sponge's horses still occupied 

 Jack's mind ; and the more he considered the subject, and the 

 worth of a corner in his lordship's will, the more sensible he 

 became of the truth of the old adage, tbat " a bird in the hand is 

 worth two in the bush." " My Lord," thought Jack, " promises 

 fair, but it is but a chance, and a remote one. He may live many 

 years — as long, perhaps longer, than me. Indeed, he puts me on 

 horses that are anything but calculated to promote longevity. 

 Then he may marry a wife who may eject me, as some wives do 

 eject their husbands' agreeable friends ; or he may change his 

 mind, and leave me nothing after all." 



All things considered, Jack came to the conclusion that he 

 should not be doing himself justice if he did not take advantage 

 of such fair opportunities as chance placed in his way, and there- 

 fore he thought he might as well be picking up a penny during 

 his lordship's life, as be waiting for a contingency that might never 

 occur. Mr. Jawleyford's indisposition preventing Jack making 

 the announcement he was sent to do, made it incumbent on him, 

 as he argued, to see what could be done with the alternative his 

 lordship had proposed — namely, buying Sponge's horses. At 

 least, Jack salved his conscience over with the old plea of duty ; 

 and had come to that conclusion as he again helped himself to 

 the last glass in the bottle. 



" Would you like a little claret ? " asked Sponge with all the 

 hospitality of a host. 



" No, hang your claret ! " replied Jack. 



"A little brandy, perhaps ?" suggested Sponge. 



" I shouldn't mind a glass of brandy," replied Jack, " by way of 

 a nightcap." 



Spigot, at this moment entering to announce tea and coffee, 

 was interrupted in his oration by Sponge demanding some 

 brandy. 



" Sorry," replied Spigot, pretending to be quite taken by surprise 

 "very sorry, sir — but, sir — master, sir — bed, sir — disturb him, 

 sir." 



" Oh, dash it, never mind that ! " exclaimed Jack ; tell him Mr. 

 Sprag — Sprag — Spraggon " (the bottle of port beginning to make 

 Jack rather inarticulate)— "tell him Mr. Spraggon wants a little." 



" Dursn't disturb him, sir," responded Spigot, with a shake of 

 his head ; " Much as my place, sir, is worth, sir." 



" Haven't you a little drop in your pantry, think you ? " asked 

 Sponge. 



