Now, at this very moment, was the culmination of the Major’s life.  He was Master of Runnymede Hounds, he was partner with the eldest son of a Duke in the possession of that magnificent colt, the Prime Minister, and he was a member of the Beargarden.  He was a man who had often been despondent about himself, but was now disposed to be little triumphant.  He had finished his season well with the Runnymede, and were it not that, let him work as he would, his expenses always exceeded his means, he would have been fairly comfortable.

At eight o’clock Lord Silverbridge and his friend met in the dining-room of the Beargarden.  ‘Have you been here before?’ asked the Lord.

’Not in here, my Lord.  I just looked in at the smoking-room last night.  Glasslough and Nidderdale were there.  I thought we should have got up a rubber, but they didn’t seem to see it.’

’There is whist there generally.  You’ll find out all about it before long.  Perhaps they are a little afraid of you.’

’I’m the worst hand at cards, I suppose, In England.  A dash at loo for about an hour, and half-a-dozen cuts at blind hookey,—­that’s about my form.  I know I drop more than I pick up.  If I knew what I was about I should never touch a card.’

‘Horses; eh, Tifto?’

‘Horses, yes.  They’ve pretty good claret, here, eh, Silverbridge?’ He could never hit off his familiarity quite right.  He had my-Lorded his young friend at first, and now brought out the name with a hesitating twang, which the young nobleman appreciated.  But then the young nobleman was quite aware that the Major was a friend for club purposes, and sporting purposes, and not for home use.

‘Everything of that kind is pretty good here,’ said the Lord.

‘You were saying—­horses.’

‘I dare say you deal better with them than cards.’

’If I didn’t I don’t know where I should be, seeing what a lot pass through my hands in the year.  Anyone of our fellows who has a horse to sell thinks that I am bound to buy him.  And I do buy ’em.  Last May I had forty-two hunters on my hands.’

‘How many of them have you got now?’

’Three.  Three of that lot,—­though a goodish many have come up since.  But what does it amount to?  When I have anything that is very good, some fellow that I like gets it from me.’

‘After paying for him?’

’After paying for him!  Yes, I don’t mean that I make a fellow a present.  But the man who buys has a deal the best of it.  Did you ever get anything better than that spotted chestnut in your life?’

‘What, old Sarcinet?’

’You had her for one hundred and sixty pounds.  Now, if you were on your oath, what is she worth?’

‘She suits me, Major, and of course I shouldn’t sell her.’

’I rather think not.  I knew what that mare was well enough.  A dealer would have had three hundred and fifty pounds for her.  I could have got the money easily if I had taken her down into the shires, and ridden her a day or two myself.’