fulfilled it none the less on that account.

His master, being an Englishman, had the common English reverence for
the Sunday, and would not shoot on that day, though by his conscientious
abstention he missed, undoubtedly, the best battue the country-side
afforded. We had a brief discussion as to the morality and propriety
of the procession, and I pointed out to him that notwithstanding the
military element by which it was so strongly marked, it was purely
sacerdotal in origin and pious in intent, but he merely replied that as
a form of religious exercise for a Sunday it struck him as being jolly
rum. He added shortly afterwards that whether he looked at it or not the
coves would do it, and that he therefore felt at liberty to watch them.

Scraper displayed the profoundest interest in the business, and took
upon himself the organisation of the whole affair, barking with so much
authority, and careering about the cavalry squadron with such untiring
energy that he threw Lil's efforts in that way into the shade, and
in the course of a mere half-hour had superseded her. Then, just as
Schwartz had been used, with every evidence of faith, to follow Lil,
regarding her as the very mainspring of the military movement, Lil
followed Scraper. Mr. Herbert Spencer has shown that, in spite of the
apparent unreasonableness of the fact, humbug and credulity are sworn
companions. The savage mystery man, who knows what a humbug he himself
is, is the first to yield allegiance and faith to the abler humbug,
who has more tricks or bolder invention than he. So, Lil's groundless
pretensions of a week ago did not seem in the least to prevent her from
being imposed upon by the groundless pretensions of Scraper, much as one
might have thought her own career of imposture would have set her upon
her guard. She had caught that very fawning method of appeal for a kind
regard which had once distinguished Schwartz, and it was obvious that
Scraper could make no claim to which she would not be ready to give
adhesion. It is in the very nature of poetical justice that it satisfies
the emotions, and I was not displeased to see affairs take this sudden
turn, to view the hard and despiteful heart thus humbled.

It was on a Friday that Schwartz's chase had ended so disastrously. It
was on the following Sunday that Lil laid down the honours of command at
the feet of the new-comer. It was on the Sunday following, the ninth day
clear from the date of the mischa