I've
got;--only you must be particular about your spurs."

"Indeed, I'd rather not. The truth is, I can't afford to ride my own
horses, and therefore I'd rather not ride my friends'."

"That's all gammon. When Violet wrote she told you you'd be expected
to come out. Your old flame, Madame Max, will be there, and I tell
you she has a very pretty idea of keeping to hounds. Only Dandolo has
that little defect."

"Is Dandolo the horse?"

"Yes;--Dandolo is the horse. He's up to a stone over your weight, and
can do any mortal thing within a horse's compass. Cox won't ride him
because he baulks, and so he has come into my stable. If you'll only
let him know that you're on his back, and have got a pair of spurs on
your heels with rowels in them, he'll take you anywhere. Good-night,
old fellow. You can smoke if you choose, you know."

Phineas had resolved that he would not hunt; but, nevertheless, he
had brought boots with him, and breeches, fancying that if he did not
he would be forced out without those comfortable appurtenances. But
there came across his heart a feeling that he had reached a time of
life in which it was no longer comfortable for him to live as a poor
man with men who were rich. It had been his lot to do so when he was
younger, and there had been some pleasure in it; but now he would
rather live alone and dwell upon the memories of the past. He, too,
might have been rich, and have had horses at command, had he chosen
to sacrifice himself for money.

On the next morning they started in a huge waggonette for Copperhouse
Cross,--a meet that was suspiciously near to the Duke's fatal wood.
Spooner had explained to Phineas over night that they never did draw
Trumpeton Wood on Copperhouse Cross days, and that under no possible
circumstances would Chiltern now draw Trumpeton Wood. But there is
no saying where a fox may run. At this time of the year, just the
beginning of February, dog-foxes from the big woods were very apt
to be away from home, and when found would go straight for their
own earths. It was very possible that they might find themselves in
Trumpeton Wood, and then certainly there would be a row. Spooner
shrugged his shoulders, and shook his head, and seemed to insinuate
that Lord Chiltern would certainly do something very dreadful to the
Duke or to the Duke's heir if any law of venery should again be found
to have been broken on this occasion.

The distance to Copperhouse Cross was twelve miles