MR. SPONGE S SPORTING TOUR. 355 



found it, with the simple observation to himself of — " that cock won't 

 fight," 



Captain Quod saw it next, then Captain Bounce}*, who told Captain 

 Cutitfat what was in it, who agreed with Bouncey that it wouldn't 

 do to have Mr. Sponge there. 



Indeed, it seemed agreed on all hands that their party rather 

 wanted weeding than increasing. 



Thus, in due time, everybody in the house knew the contents of 

 the note save Sir Harry, though none of them thought worth while 

 telling him of it. On the third morning, however, as the party were 

 assembling for breakfast, he came into the room reading it. 



" This (hiccup) note ought to have been delivered before," ob- 

 served he, holding it up. 



" Indeed, my dear," replied Lady Scattercash, who was sitting 

 gloriously fine and very beautiful at the head of the table, " I don't 

 know anything about it." 



-' Who is it from ? " asked brother Bob Spangles. 



" Mr. (hiccup) Sponge," replied Sir Harry. 



" What a name ! " exclaimed Captain Seedeybuck. 



" Who is he ? " asked Captain Quod. 



" Don't know," replied Sir Harry ; " he writes to (hiccup) about 

 the hounds." 



" Oh, it'll be that brown-booted buffer," observed Captain Boun- 

 cey, •' that we left at old Peastraw's." 



" No doubt," assented Captain Cutitfat ; adding, " what business 

 has he^with the hounds ? " 



" He wants to know when we are going to (hiccup) again," ob- 

 served Sir Harry. 



" Does he ? " replied Captain Seedybuck. " That, I suppose, will 

 depend upon Watchorn." 



The party now got settled to breakfast, and as soon as the first 

 burst of appetite was appeased, the conversation again turned upon 

 our friend Mr. Sponge. 



" Who is this Mr. Sponge ? " asked Captain Bouncey, the bil- 

 liard-marker, with the air of a thorough exclusive. 



Nobody answered. 



" Who's your friend ? " asked he of Sir Harry direct. 



" Don't know," replied Sir Harry, from between the mouthfuls of 

 a highly cayenned grill. 



" P'raps a bolting betting-office keeper," suggested Captain Lad- 

 ofwax, who hated Captain Bouncey. 



" He looks more like a glazier, I think," retorted Captain Boun- 

 cey, with a look of defiance at the speaker. 



" Lucky if he is one," retorted Captain Ladofwax, reddening up to 

 the eyes ; " he may have a chance of repairing somebody's daylights." 

 The captain raising his saucer, to discharge it at his opponent's 

 head. 



