oates. "So much the worse for him. Let me once
lay hands upon him, and I'll put a gag in his mouth that shall spoil his
talking in the future."

"That's precisely the point I desire to arrive at," replied Jack; "and I
advise you by all means to accomplish that, for the sake of the family.
Nobody likes his friends to be talked about. So I'd settle the matter
amicably, were I you. Just let the fellow go his way; he won't return
here again in a hurry, I'll be bound. As to clapping him in quod, he
might prattle--turn stag."

"Turn stag!" replied Coates, "what the deuce is that? In my opinion, he
has 'turned stag' already. At all events, he'll pay _deer_ for his
night's sport, you may depend upon it. What signifies it what _he_ says?
Let me lay hands upon him, that's all."

"Well, well," said Jack, "no offence. I only meant to offer a
suggestion. I thought the family, young Sir Ranulph, I mean, mightn't
like the story to be revived. As to Lady Rookwood, she don't, I suppose,
care much about idle reports. Indeed, if I've been rightly informed, she
bears this youngster no particular good-will to begin with, and has
tried hard to get him out of the country. But, as you say, what _does_
it signify what he says? he can _only_ talk. Sir Piers is dead and
gone."

"Humph!" muttered Coates, peevishly.

"But it does seem a little hard, that a lad should swing for killing a
bit of venison in his own father's park."

"Which he'd a _nat'ral_ right to do," cried Titus.

"He had no natural right to bruise, violently assault, and endanger the
life of his father's, or anybody else's gamekeeper," retorted Coates. "I
tell you, sir, he's committed a capital offence, and if he's taken----"

"No chance of that, I hope," interrupted Jack.

"That's a wish I can't help wishing myself," said Titus: "on my
conscience, these poachers are fine boys, when all's said and done."

"The finest of all boys," exclaimed Jack, with a kindred enthusiasm,
"are those birds of the night, and minions of the moon, whom we call,
most unjustly, poachers. They are, after all, only _professional
sportsmen_, making a business of what we make a pleasure; a nightly
pursuit of what is to us a daily relaxation; there's the main
distinction. As to the rest, it's all in idea; they merely thin an
overstocked park, as _you_ would reduce a plethoric patient, doctor; or
as _you_ would work a moneyed client, if you got him into Chancery,
Mister Attorney. And then how much