must be unpacked, Sir William,' said the valet
consequentially, 'and then monsieur may be raised so gently as not to
suffer any farther inconvenience.'

He then, with the assistance of his two fellow-servants, removed all the
packages from the boot, etc., etc., and by the help of the numerous
bystanders propped up the carriage, and assisted his master to descend,
the skirts of whose coat bore evident marks of the course the claret had
taken when it escaped from its imprisonment in the flask, while his
trousers and stockings appeared to have been liberally complimented with
Ude's delicious _consomme_ at the moment of the grand squash.

Lady Clairmont, having seen all from the observatory, had sent a sofa
and pillows for her uncle's accommodation, which arrived at this moment,
and the baronet, with Mr. Stanhope's aid, placed the old gentleman upon
it in a state of comparative comfort, the boys trying to arrange the
cushions and pillows for him, while an air of good-humoured contempt
mingled with their assiduities.

'Ah, my poor friend, Apicius,' he exclaimed on seeing the dying horse
panting beside the prostrate destroyer, 'nothing can be done for you, I
see. Lead him away if possible, and put him out of his pain as
mercifully as you can. Fine creature. I cannot bear to look at him; he
little thought, when he pranced off so stately yesterday morning, that
he was coming to feed the hounds at Clairmont, and a tit-bit they will
find him; he's in capital condition. Pray let him be taken away.'

'I think we had better take care of you first, dear sir,' said his
nephew, 'but I fear you will not find a dinner to your taste this
evening. There will be two dishes minus at least, for we did not expect
you till to-morrow, the eighteenth--the day you named.'

'Ha, that was an unlucky mistake of Melange which we found out too late.
He put the paper before me and dated the letter; but, however, as things
have turned out it is of no consequence. I shall take no dinner to-day,
but some pearl-sago, enriched with a good dash of old Jamaica. You must
let me have a warm bath, nephew, and bid them put me to bed directly,
and in two or three days, perhaps, all will be set to rights. Hope Lady
Clairmont and all your family are well. How do you do, Mr. Stanhope?
Excuse me, I can't pretend to see anybody for the next eight-and-forty
hours. By this management I, perhaps, may escape a fit of the gout,
which has certainly received a most pressi