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.
Pages:
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256