'Shooting a great deal, if what I see in the newspapers be true
about Mr Reginald Dobbes and his party. I presume it is a religion
to offer up hecatombs to the autumnal gods,--who must surely take a
keener delight in blood and slaughter than those bloodthirsty gods
of old.'
'You should talk to Gerald about that, sir.'
'Has Gerald been so great at his sacrifices? How will that suit
with Plato? What does Mr Simcox say?'
'Of course they were all to have a holiday just at that time. But
Gerald is reading. I fancy that Gerald is clever.'
'And he is a great Nimrod?'
'As to hunting.'
'Nimrod I fancy got his game in any way that he could compass it.
I do not doubt but that he trapped foxes.'
'With a rifle at deer, say for four hundred yards, I would back
Gerald against any man of his age in England or Scotland.'
'As to backing, Silverbridge, do not you think we had better have
done with that?' This was hardly in a tone of reproach, with
something even of banter in it; and as the question was asked the
Duke was smiling. But in a moment all that sense of joyousness
which the young man had felt in singing his brother's praises was
expelled.
Pages:
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618