ant would be all he should require, or if his fancy stood for
any _bonnes bouches_, his factotum, Monsieur Melange (his valet, cook,
and occasional secretary) would bring materials for preparing them.

The party were amusing themselves with admiring the modest simplicity of
the old gentleman's bill of fare when Denton, the house-steward, ran in,
and, staring wildly around, exclaimed: 'Thank goodness everybody is
here!' then, darting forward to an open door which looked upon the lawn,
he shut and locked it, and slammed down the sashes with the greatest
precipitation, then, turning to Sir William, said: 'Pray, sir, please
to come out of the room with me this moment.'

The baronet followed him outside the door, while the careful servant,
still holding it ajar, added: 'Pray, ladies and gentlemen, don't stir
out of this room, pray don't.' He then shut and locked the door.

'Why, what ails you, Denton; what is all this about?' said the baronet.
'One would think you had been bit by a mad dog.'

'Not exactly that, Sir William,' replied the man, quivering in every
limb, 'but I fear we may all be bit, before an hour is over our heads,
by something quite as bad.'

He then informed his master that the keeper of a caravan of wild beasts
had just come to the castle, and stated that in going through the
nearest market-town his vehicle had been upset, and the damage which
ensued had given an opportunity for one of his most valuable animals, a
Bengal tiger, to make its escape, that he and two of the keepers had
tracked it as far as the Warren on the Clairmont estate, and he had come
to beg assistance from the castle, while the other two stood armed on
each side a gap in the Warren where they thought it was hid, and from
whence, should it attempt to issue, they hoped, by help from Sir
William, to intercept its free egress.

'They want ropes and blankets and coverlets from the servants' beds,'
added Denton, 'to spread over the gap, which things they mean to fasten
down on each side, and then lure the beast to the entrance by the scent
of his usual food, when he will try to force himself through the
coverings; then they can lay hold of his smothered head without fear,
and easily slipping a noose round his neck convey him in this manner
back to his old quarters.'

'By all means let them have what is necessary,' said the baronet, 'and
tell the grooms to keep the stable-door locked, and get in the horses.
It is not likely that the crea