his, Sir Oliver Rington approached the Major and in his eagerness
tapped him on the arm with his whip.

"With your permission, Major, I'll see this rogue set in the stocks and
after safely under lock and key. You'll prosecute, of course."

Very gently the Major set aside Sir Oliver's whip and limped over to
the prisoner:

"He looks sufficiently young!" said he.

"A criminal type!" nodded Sir Oliver, "I've convicted many such--a very
brutal, desperate rogue!"

"To be sure he's very bloody!" said the Major.

"Aye," growled Sir Oliver, "and serve him right--he gave enough trouble
for six."

"And something faint!"

"Aye, feint it is sir--the rascal's shamming."

"And dusty!"

"O, a foul beast!" agreed Sir Oliver.

"And hath a hungry look. So shall he go wash and eat----"

"Wash--eat--how--what in the devil's name, sir----"

"Sergeant!"

"Sir!" answered the Sergeant, very upright and stiff in the back.

"Take the fellow to the stables and when he's washed--feed him!"

"Very good, sir!" Saying which, the Sergeant advanced upon the
drooping prisoner, set hand to ragged coat-collar, and wheeling him
half-left, marched him away.

"Strike me everlasting perishing purple!" exclaimed the Marquis.

"Damnation!" cried Sir Oliver, his whip quivering in his fist, "d'ye
mean to say, sir--d'ye mean----" he choked.

"I mean to say, that since the prisoner stole my property I will
dispose of him as I think fit----"

"Fit sir--fit--as you think fit!" spluttered Sir Oliver.

"Or as it pleases me, sir."

"You sir--you!" panted Sir Oliver in sudden frenzy, "and who the devil
are you that dare run counter to the law--a beggarly half-pay
soldier----"

"O demmit, sir!" exclaimed the Marquis, restraining plump ferocity,
"try to be a little decent, I beg, just a little--remember you are not
in the House now, sir!"

Sir Oliver sulkily permitted himself to be drawn a little aside, then,
halting suddenly, wheeled about and pointed at the Major with his whip.

"Gentlemen all," he cried, "behold a man who hath no respect for the
Constitution, for Church, State or King God save him! Behold a--a
being who is traitor to his class! A man who--who'd--O
damme--who'd--shoot a fox!"

The Major laughed suddenly and shook his head.

"No," said he, "no, I'll shoot neither foxes--nor even fools,
sir--if--I say if--it may be avoided. And so, gentlemen, thanking you
for your extreme zeal on my behalf in the matter of my poach