208 



be, a scamp, going about with a prospectus. Puff had been bit in the 

 matter of some maps in London, and was wary, as all people ought 

 to be, of these birds. 



The stranger came sidling up with a half bow, half touch of the 

 hat, drawling out, 



"'Sceuuse me, sir — 'sceuuse me, sir," with another half bow and 

 another half touch of the hat. " I'm Mister Bragg, sir — Mister 

 Richard Bragg, sir ; of whom you have most likely heard." 



" Bragg — Richard Bragg," repeated our friend, thoughtfully, 

 while he scanned the man's features, and run his sporting acquaint- 

 ance through his mind's eye. " Bragg, Bragg," repeated he, without 

 hitting him off. 



" I was huntsman, sir, to my Lord Reynard, sir," observed the 

 stranger, with a touch of the hat to each " sir." " Thought p'raps 

 you might have known his ludship, sir. Before him, sir, I held 

 office, sir, under the Duke of Downeybird, sir, of Downeybird Castle, 

 sir, in Downeybirdshire, sir." 



" Indeed?" replied Mr. Puffington, with a half bow and a smile 

 of politeness. 



" Hearing, sir, you had taken these Mangeysterne dogs, sir," con- 

 tinued the stranger, with rather a significant emphasis on the word 

 " dogs " — " hearing, sir, you had taken these Mangeysterne dogs, sir, 

 it occurred to me that possibly I might be useful to you, sir, in your 

 new calling, sir ; and if you were of the same 'pinion, sir, why, sir, I 

 should be glad to negotiate a connexion, sir." 



" Hem ! — hem ! — hem ! " coughed Mr. Puffington. " In the way 

 of a huntsman do you mean ? " afraid to talk of servitude to so fine a 

 gentleman. 



" Just so," said Mr. Bragg, with a chuck of his head — "just so. 

 The fact is, though I'm used to the grass countries, sir, and could go 

 to the Marquis of Maneylies, sir, to-morrow, sir, I should prefer a 

 quiet place in a somewhat inferior country, sir, to a five-days-a-week 

 one in the best. Five and six days a-week, sir, is a terrible tax, sir, 

 on the constitution, sir ; and though, sir, I'm thankful to say, sir, 

 I've pretty good 'ealth, sir, yet, sir, you know, sir, it don't do, sir, to 

 take too great liberties with oneself, sir ; " Mr. Bragg sawing away 

 at his hat as he spoke, measuring off a touch, as it were, to each 

 " sir," the action becoming quick towards the end. 



" Why, to tell you the truth," said Puff, looking rather sheepish 

 — " to tell you the truth — I intended — I thought at least of— of — of 

 — hunting them myself." 



" Ah ! that's another pair of shoes altogether as we say in France," 

 replied Bragg, with a low bow and a copious round of the hand to the 

 hat. " That's another pair of shoes altogether," repeated he, tapping 

 his boot with his whip. 



" Why, I thought of it," rejoined Puff, not feeling quite sure 

 whether he could or not. 



