A word or two further was at first said about that unfortunate
wood for which Silverbridge at the present felt himself
responsible. Finn said that he was sure the Duke would look to it,
if Silverbridge would mention it. Chiltern simply groaned.
Silverbridge said nothing, remembering how many troubles he had on
hand at this moment. Then by degrees their solicitude worked
itself round to the cares of a neighbouring hunt. The A.R.U. had
lost their master. One Captain Glomax was going, and the county
had been driven to the necessity of advertising for a successor.
'When hunting comes to that,' said Lord Chiltern, 'one begins to
think that it is in a bad way.' It may always be observed that
when hunting-men speak seriously of their sport, they speak
despondingly. Everything is going wrong. Perhaps the same thing
may be remarked in other pursuits. Farmers are generally on the
verge of ruin. Trade is always bad. The church is in danger. The
House of Lords isn't worth a dozen years' purchase. The throne
totters.
'An itinerant master with a carpet-bag never can carry on a
country,' said Mr Spooner.
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