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discovered the origin of his family； it was a matter of which he did
not speak； perhaps because he was vague about it himself； but if an
earl of Norman blood had married a handsome Cockney kitchenmaid of
native ability； I can quite imagine that Samuel Savage might have been
a child of the union。 For the rest he was a good man and a faithful
one； for whom I have a high respect。
On this occasion he conducted us round the castle； or； rather； its
more public rooms； showing us many treasures and； I should think； at
least two hundred pictures by eminent and departed artists； which gave
him an opportunity of exhibiting a peculiar； if somewhat erratic；
knowledge of history。 To tell the truth； I began to wish that it were
a little less full in detail； since on a December day those large
apartments felt uncommonly cold。 Scroope and Miss Manners seemed to
keep warm； perhaps with the inward fires of mutual admiration； but as
I had no one to admire except Mr。 Savage； a temperature of about 35
degrees produced its natural effect upon me。
At length we took a short cut from the large to the little gallery
through a warmed and comfortable room； which I understood was Lord
Ragnall's study。 Halting for a moment by one of the fires； I observed
a picture on the wall； over which a curtain was drawn； and asked Mr。
Savage what it might be。
〃That； sir；〃 he replied with a kind of haughty reserve； 〃is the
portrait of her future ladyship； which his lordship keeps for his
private heye。〃
Miss Manners sniggered； and I said：
〃Oh； thank you。 What an ill…omened kind of thing to do！〃
Then； observing through an open door the hall in which my hat had been
taken from me； I lingered and as the others vanished in the little
gallery； slipped into it； recovered my belongings； and passed out to
the garden； purposing to walk there till I was warm again and Scroope
reappeared。 While I marched up and down a terrace； on which； I
remember； several very cold…looking peacocks were seated； like
conscientious birds that knew it was their duty to be ornamental；
however low the temperature； I heard some shots fired； apparently in a
clump of ilex oaks which grew about five hundred yards away； and
reflected to myself that they seemed to be those of a small rifle； not
of a shotgun。
My curiosity being excited as to what was to be an almost professional
matter； I walked towards the grove； making a circuit through a
shrubbery。 At length I found myself near to the edge of a glade； and
perceived； standing behind the shelter of a magnificent ilex； two men。
One of these was a young keeper； and the other； from his appearance； I
felt sure must be Lord Ragnall himself。 Certainly he was a splendid…
looking man； very tall； very broad； very handsome； with a peaked
beard； a kind and charming face； and large dark eyes。 He wore a cloak
upon his shoulders； which was thrown back from over a velvet coat；
and； except for the light double…barrelled rifle in his hand； looked
exactly like a picture by Van Dyck which Mr。 Savage had just informed
me was that of one of his lordship's ancestors of the time of Charles
I。
Standing behind another oak； I observed that he was trying to shoot
wood…pigeons as they descended to feed upon the acorns； for which the
hard weather had made them greedy。 From time to time these beautiful
blue birds appeared and hovered a moment before they settled； whereon
the sportsman fired andthey flew away。 /Bang！ Bang！/ went the
double…barrelled rifle； and off fled the pigeon。
〃Damn！〃 said the sportsman in a pleasant； laughing voice； 〃that's the
twelfth I have missed； Charles。〃
〃You hit his tail； my lord。 I saw a feather come out。 But； my lord； as
I told you； there ain't no man living what can kill pigeons on the
wing with a bullet； even when they seem to sit still in the air。〃
〃I have heard of one； Charles。 Mr。 Scroope has a friend from Africa
staying with him who； he swears； could knock over four out of six。〃
〃Then； my lord； Mr。 Scroope has a friend what lies；〃 replied Charles
as he handed him the second rifle。
This was too much for me。 I stepped forward； raising my hat politely；
and said：
〃Sir； forgive me for interrupting you； but you are not shooting at
those wood…pigeons in the right way。 Although they seem to hover just
before they settle； they are dropping much faster than you think。 Your
keeper was mistaken when he said that you knocked a feather out of the
tail of that last bird at which you fired two barrels。 In both cases
you shot at least a foot above it； and what fell was a leaf from the
ilex tree。〃
There was a moment's silence； which was broken by Charles； who
ejaculated in a thick voice：
〃Well； of all the cheek！〃
Lord Ragnall； however； for it was he； looked first angry and then
amused。
〃Sir；〃 he said； 〃I thank you for your advice； which no doubt is
excellent； for it is certainly true that I have missed every pigeon
which I tried to shoot with these confounded little rifles。 But if you
could demonstrate in practice what you so kindly set out in precept；
the value of your counsel would be enhanced。〃
Thus he spoke； mimicking； I have no doubt （for he had a sense of
humour）； the manner of my address； which nervousness had made somewhat
pompous。
〃Give me the rifle；〃 I answered； taking off my greatcoat。
He handed it me with a bow。
〃Mind what you are about；〃 growled Charles。 〃That there thing is full
cocked and 'air…triggered。〃
I withered； or； rather； tried to wither him with a glance； but this
unbelieving keeper only stared back at me with insolence in his round
and bird…like eyes。 Never before had I felt quite so angry with a
menial。 Then a horrible doubt struck me。 Supposing I should miss！ I
knew very little of the manner of flight of English wood…pigeons；
which are not difficult to miss with a bullet； and nothing at all of
these particular rifles； though a glance at them showed me that they
were exquisite weapons of their sort and by a great maker。 If I muffed
the thing now； how should I bear the scorn of Charles and the polite
amusement of his noble master？ Almost I prayed that no more pigeons
would put in an appearance； and thus that the issue of my supposed
skill might be left in doubt。
But this was not to be。 These birds came from far in ones or twos to
search for their favourite food； and the fact that others had been
scared away did not cause them to cease from coming。 Presently I heard
Charles mutter：
〃Now； then； look out； guv'nor。 Here's your chance of teaching his
lordship how to do it； though he does happen to be the best shot in
these counties。〃
While he spoke two pigeons appeared； one a little behind the other；
coming down very straight。 As they reached the opening in the ilex
grove they hovered； preparing to alight； for of us they could see
nothing； one at a distance of about fifty and the other of； say；
seventy yards away。 I