‘"I think I have a hound that may be useful to you—­“’ resumed his lordship, for the third time. ’"It is Old Merriman, a remarkably stout, true line hunting hound; but who is getting slow for me—­” Slow for you, you beggar!’ exclaimed his lordship; ‘I should have thought nothin’ short of a wooden ’un would have been too slow for you.  “He’s a six-season hunter, and is by Fitzwilliam’s Singwell out of his Darling.  Singwell was by the Rutland Rallywood out of Tavistock’s Rhapsody.  Rallywood was by Old Lonsdale’s—­” Old Lonsdale’s!—­the snob!’ sneered Lord Scamperdale—­’"Old Lonsdale’s Palafox, out of Anson’s—­” Anson’s!—­curse the fellow,’ again muttered his lordship—­’"out of Anson’s Madrigal.  Darling was by old Grafton’s Bolivar, out of Blowzy.  Bolivar was by the Brocklesby; that’s Yarborough’s—­” That’s Yarborough’s!’ sneered his lordship, ’as if one didn’t know that as well as him—­“by the Brocklesby; that’s Yarborough’s Marmion out of Petre’s Matchless; and Marmion was by that undeniable hound, the—­” the—­what?’ asked his lordship.

‘Beaufort Justice, to be sure!’ replied Jack.

‘"The Beaufort Justice!"’ read his lordship, with due emphasis.

‘Hurrah!’ exclaimed Jack, waving the dirty, egg-stained, mustardy copy of Bell’s Life over his head.  ‘Hurrah!  I told you so.’

‘But hark to Justice!’ exclaimed his lordship, resuming his reading. ’"I’ve always been a great admirer of the Beaufort Justice blood—­“’

‘No doubt,’ said Jack; ‘it’s the only blood you know.’

’"It was in great repute in the Badminton country in old Beaufort’s time, with whom I hunted a great deal many years ago, I’m sorry to say.  The late Mr. Warde, who, of course, was very justly partial to his own sort, had never any objection to breeding from this Beaufort Justice.  He was of Lord Egremont’s blood, by the New Forest Justice; Justice by Mr. Gilbert’s Jasper; and Jasper bred by Egremont—­” Oh, the hosier!’ exclaimed his lordship; ‘he’ll be the death of me.’

‘Is that all?’ asked Jack, as his lordship seemed lost in meditation.

‘All?—­no!’ replied he, starting up, adding, ‘here’s something about you.’

‘Me!’ exclaimed Jack.

’"If Mr. Spraggon is with you, and you like to bring him, I can manage to put him up too,"’ read his lordship.  ‘What think you of that?’ asked his lordship, turning to our friend, who was now squinting his eyes inside out with anger.

‘Think of it!’ retorted Jack, kicking out his legs—­’think of it!—­why, I think he’s a dim’d impittant feller, as Bragg would say.’

‘So he is,’ replied his lordship; ‘treating my friend Jack so.’

‘I’ve a good mind to go,’ observed Jack, after a pause, thinking he might punish Puff, and try to do a little business with Sponge.  ’I’ve a good mind to go,’ repeated he; ’just by way of paying Master Puff off.  He’s a consequential jackass, and wants taking down a peg or two.’