THE COOKERY OF VENISON 293 



we think, who was engaged to dine with a friend, 

 when, looking down through the area railings next 

 door, he saw a glorious haunch revolving on the spit. 

 With the promptitude of genius, his resolution was 

 taken. He happened to have a slight acquaintance 

 with that neighbour : he knocked, walked upstairs, 

 palmed off one of his plausible stories and was duly 

 invited to stay to dinner. The expected haunch 

 never made its appearance. Queries were insinuated 

 and explanations ensued. The host's friend in No. 

 99 had a party that evening, and his own kitchen 

 range being out of repair, he had sent in that noble 

 haunch to be roasted. We know it was Hook who, 

 strolling through Mayfair with Terry, the protege of 

 Walter Scott, was arrested, as Lowell sweetly sings, in 

 ' The Biglow Papers,' by 



Ketchin' smells of roast and boiled 

 A' comin' from the kitchen. 



Again he looked down and saw his favourite joint. 

 He did not know the gentleman who owned it from 

 Adam, but again he walked in, presented his friend, 

 procured an invitation, enjoyed an excellent dinner ; 

 was, of course, the life and soul of the society, and 

 won the gratitude of the good gentleman he had 

 victimised by making the evening go off delightfully. 



