in
gallant style, and the whole field is hard up, till pug takes a stiff
country; then they who haven't pluck lag, see no more of him, and, with
a fine blazing scent, there are but few of us in at the death.'

'Well, we are fairly in at the death, I hope,' said Lady Dashfort; 'I
was thrown out sadly at one time in the chace.'

Lord Colambre, with the count's permission, took up a book in which the
count's pencil lay, PASLEY ON THE MILITARY POLICY OF GREAT BRITAIN; it
was marked with many notes of admiration, and with hands pointing to
remarkable passages.

'That is a book that leaves a strong impression on the mind,' said the
count.

Lord Colambre read one of the marked passages, beginning with, 'All
that distinguishes a soldier in outward appearance from a citizen is so
trifling--' but at this instant our hero's attention was distracted by
seeing in a black-letter book this title of a chapter:

'Burial-place of the Nugents.' 'Pray now, sir,' said Captain Williamson,
'if I don't interrupt you, as you are such a famous fox-hunter, maybe,
you may be a fisherman too; and now in Ireland do you, MR.--'

A smart pinch on his elbow from his major, who stood behind him, stopped
the captain short, as he pronounced the word MR. Like all awkward
people, he turned directly to ask, by his looks, what was the matter?

The major took advantage of his discomfiture, and, stepping before him,
determined to have the fishing to himself, and went on with--

'Count O'Halloran, I presume you understand fishing too, as well as
hunting?'

The count bowed: 'I do not presume to say that, sir.'

'But pray, count, in this country, do you arm your hook this ways? Give
me leave;' taking the whip from Williamson's reluctant hand, 'this ways,
laying the outermost part of your feather this fashion next to your
hook, and the point next to your shank, this wise, and that wise; and
then, sir,--count, you take the hackle of a cock's neck----'

'A plover's topping's better,' said Williamson.

'And work your gold and silver thread,' pursued Benson, 'up to your
wings, and when your head's made, you fasten all.'

'But you never showed how your head's made,' interrupted Williamson.

'The gentleman knows how a head's made; any man can make a head, I
suppose; so, sir, you fasten all.'

'You'll never get your head fast on that way, while the world stands,'
cried Williamson.

'Fast enough for all purposes; I'll bet you a rump and dozen, captain;