But it is
better to submit to public opinion. Public opinion thinks that
letter should be answered.' Then Mr Lupton dictated the answers.
'Lord Silverbridge presents his compliments to Mr Jawstock, and
begs to say that he does not feel himself called upon to express
any opinion as to Major Tifto's conduct at Doncaster.'
That was the first. The second was rather less simple, but not
much longer.
'SIR,
'I do not feel myself called upon to express any opinion either to
you or to others as to your conduct at Doncaster. Having received
a letter on the subject from Mr Jawstock I have written to him to
this effect.
'Your obedient Servant,
SILVERBRIDGE.'
Poor Tifto, when he got this very curt epistle, was broken-
hearted. He did not dare to show it. Day after day he told the
livery-stable keeper that he had received no reply, and at last
asserted that his appeal had remained altogether unanswered. Even
this he thought was better than acknowledging the rebuff which had
reached him. As regarded the meeting which had been held,--any
further meetings which might be held,--at The Bobtailed Fox, he did
not see the necessity, as he explained it to the livery-stable
keeper, of acknowledging that he had written any letter to Lord
Silverbridge.
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