"Novice, indeed! me a novice. Oh! you are quite in error. The fact is, these devils of birds and rabbits lie hidden, do you see, under the grass like frogs, one never knows where; so that I never see them till they are all but in my eyes, or cutting capers like Taglioni's under my feet, and your dogs putting out their tongues, and staring at me." "Why, of course they do; the intelligent brutes are ready to expire at your awkwardness." "Much obliged to you for the compliment. Again, you say, they turn their tails to the right by way of telling me that I am to go to the left; and to the left, when I am to walk to the right. Who, I ask you, is to understand such telegraphs as these? I have not yet learned how to converse with dogs' tails--intelligence, indeed! I believe it is all humbug; for, when my whole soul is absorbed in watching the tips of these very tails, a crowd of partridges jump up just in front of me, making as much noise as if they were drummers beating the retreat. If I am hurried and stupefied".... "And if," I added, "you are much disposed to throw down your gun as to fire it." "Well! supposing I am; what is the wonder? 'Tis no fault of mine--I am not used to partridge-shooting! I am not a wild man of the woods, like you! I did not cut my teeth gnawing a cartridge, as you did!" "Come, come! don't be affronted." "Affronted? No; but you have no consideration. You're a Robin Hood, an exterminator! if you look at one partridge, you kill four! You sleep with your rifle, turn your game-bag into a nightcap, and shave with a _couteau-de-chasse_!" "May be so! but let us have the fact." "The fact! Then I hate your long-tailed dogs, and your detestable flights of noisy birds! Let me have them one by one, like larks in the plain of St. Denis, and I'll soon clear the province for you." "Upon my word, Adolphe, we should have something to thank you for!" "I tell you what, Henri; those partridges, after all, are trumpery things to kill. 'Tis mere hurry that prevents my hitting them. Don't imagine I am frightened! If you wish to give me real pleasure, let us go to India and shoot a lion or a tiger;--give me a chance with an elephant!" "Willingly; but allow me to suggest, that if we set out for India, we shall not get back in time for dinner." "We will keep in Europe, then; but, at least, show me some game worthy of me. A serpent--I will cut him in two at a stroke. A bull--I will soon send a brace of balls into him." "Well done! just like a Parisian." "Parisian! Pray what do you mean by that?" "A boaster, if you prefer the word." "Ha! ha! a boaster, indeed! Do you mean to say that I'm afraid of a bull?" "Of course not. However, as there are no bulls here, I will send the head _piqueur_ upon the track of a wild boar which was seen near the chateau last night; he will exactly suit you. I consider him as doomed."