mr. sponge's sporting tour. 163 



not be doing himself justice if he did not take advantage of such fair 

 opportunities as chance placed in his way, and therefore 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. Jawley- 

 ford'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 hos- 

 pitality 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. 



"The cook perhaps has," replied Mr. Spigot, as if it was quite 

 out of his line. 



" Well, go and ask her," said Sponge; " and bring some hot water 

 and things, the same as we had last night, you know." 



Mr. Spigot retired, and presently returned, bearing a tray with 

 three-quarters of a bottle of brandy, which he impressed upon their 

 minds was the " cook's own." 



" I dare say," hiccupped Jack, holding the bottle up to the light. 



" Hope she wasn't using it herself," observed Sponge. 



" Tell her we'll (hiccup) her health," hiccupped Jack, pouring a 

 liberal potation into his tumbler. 



" That'll be all you'll do, I dare say," muttered Spigot to himself, 

 as he sauntered back to his pantry. 



" Does Jaw stand smoking ? " asked Jack, as Spigot disappeared. 



" Oh I should think so," replied Sponge ; " a friend like you, I'm 

 sure, would be welcome " — Sponge thinking to indulge in a cigar, and 

 lay the blame on Jack. 



" Well, if you think so," said Jack, pulling out his cigar-case, or 



