an. Do you think Dearham would take the post?"

"It's possible," said Mordaunt, very dryly. "Have you decided to ask
him?"

The others were quiet for a moment or two. They felt they had got a
hint, but the hint was vague. Somebody must take the hounds and they
could not. They resolved to leave the thing to Herries; he was young
and his remarks would not carry so much weight. Besides, he knew
Mordaunt well.

"Let's be frank," he said, hiding some embarrassment by a twinkle meant
for Mordaunt alone. "Choosing a master of hounds is an important job.
Would Dearham fill the post properly?"

"I think not," Mordaunt answered in a quiet voice.

"Oh, well," remarked another. "I suppose there is no more to be said."

Mordaunt lighted a fresh cigarette. "I want you to understand. Jim
Dearham is my relation, but I feel my responsibility. He is a good
sort and I am not stating much to his disadvantage when I admit that he
is not the proper man to take the hounds. He has not yet cultivated
our sense of sport and his notions are utilitarian. I'm afraid he'd
grumble about broken fences and trampled crops. Then, for example,
he's dyking the marsh."

"Exactly!" said one. "I imagine we do understand. Well, we must ask
Watson of Red Bank. He's rich enough and ambitious, although he's not
altogether the man I'd like."

They agreed, and soon afterwards Dick came in and asked Mordaunt: "Why
didn't you stop for me, as you promised?"

"I did stop. I waited some minutes."

"Then you must have come before the time."

"Look at your watch," said Mordaunt, who took out his. "I got the time
at the station this afternoon."

Dick said it did not matter much and asked whom they meant to make the
master of hounds.

"Watson, of Red Bank," one replied, and began to talk about something
else when he had filled a glass for Dick. The latter was young and
sometimes indiscreet; it was better he should not know what Mordaunt
had said.

By and by two or three went off to the billiard-room and Herries said
to Mordaunt: "Sorry I had to urge you; but I knew the others hadn't
pluck enough and meant to leave the thing to me. Their notion was I
didn't count and you wouldn't resent my remarks. Rather an awkward
job, but we felt we could trust you. All the same, I like Jim, and
expect he'll be popular when we get to know him. In fact, I imagine
I'd have let him take the hounds."

"He'd have jolted the others badly," Mordaunt re