“Precisely that,” said the Major. “I was once sued for twenty pounds by a groom that fell off my best horse and let him run away, and damme, the fellow recovered.” He bowed to the ladies and left the room. “Of course we can fix all that up,” said Lord Frederic. “The old chap is a bit overcautious nowadays, but how can we get hold of this fellow Grady?” “I’ll wire him at once, if you wish,” said Mr. Carteret, and he went to the writing table. “When do you want him to come down?” he asked, as he began to write. “We might take them out with the Quorn on Saturday,” said Lord Frederic, “but the meet is rather far for us. Perhaps it would be better to have them on Thursday with Charley Ploversdale’s hounds.” Mr. Carteret hesitated a moment. “Wouldn’t Ploversdale be apt to be fussy about experiments? He’s rather conservative, you know, about the way people are turned out. I saw him send a man home one day who was out without a hat. It was an American who was afraid that hats made his hair come out.” “Pish,” said Lord Frederic, “Charley Ploversdale is mild as a dove.” “Suit yourself,” said Mr. Carteret. “I’ll make it Thursday. One more question,” he added. “How many shall I ask him to bring down?” At this moment the Major came into the room again. He had mislaid his eyeglasses. “I should think that a dozen would be about the right number,” said Lord Frederic, replying to Mr. Carteret. “It would be very imposing.” “Too many!” said the Major. “We must mount them on good horses and I don’t want my entire stable ruined by men who have never lepped a fence.” “I think the Major is right about the matter of numbers,” said Mr. Carteret. “How would three do?” “Make it three,” said the Major. Before dinner was over a reply came from Grady saying that he and three bucks would be pleased to arrive Thursday morning prepared for a hunting party. This took place on Monday, and at various times during Tuesday and Wednesday Mr. Carteret gave the subject thought. By Thursday morning his views had ripened. He ordered his tea and eggs to be served in his room and came down a little past ten dressed in knickerbockers and an old shooting coat. He wandered into the dining-room and found Mrs. Ascott-Smith sitting by the fire entertaining Lord Frederic, as he went to and from the sideboard in search of things to eat. “Good morning,” said Mr. Carteret, hoarsely. Lord Frederic looked around and as he noticed Mr. Carteret’s clothes his face showed surprise. “Hello!” he said, “you had better hurry and change, or you will be late. We have to start in half an hour to meet Grady.” Mr. Carteret coughed. “I don’t think that I can go out to-day. It is a great disappointment.” “Not going hunting?” exclaimed Mrs. Ascott-Smith. “What is the matter?” “I have a bad cold,” said Mr. Carteret miserably. “But, my dear fellow,” exclaimed Lord Frederic, “it will do your cold a world of good!” “Not a cold like mine,” said Mr. Carteret.