Mr Jawstock sat on the right hand of Mr Topps, and a place was left for the master opposite. The task to be performed was neither easy nor pleasant. It was necessary that the orator should accuse the gentleman opposite to him,--a man with whom he himself had been very intimate,--of iniquity so gross and so mean, that nothing worse can be conceived. 'You are a swindler, a cheat, a rascal of the very deepest dye;--a rogue so mean that it is revolting to be in the same room with you!' That was what Mr Jawstock had to say.
And he said it. Looking round the room, occasionally appealing to Mr Topps, who on these occasions would lift up his hands in horror, but never letting his eye fall for a moment on the Major.
Mr Jawstock told his story. 'I did not see it done,' said he. 'I know nothing about it. I never was at Doncaster in my life. But you have evidence of what the Jockey Club thinks. The Master of our Hunt has been banished from racecourses.' Here there was considerable opposition, and a few short but excited little dialogues were maintained;--throughout all which Tifto restrained himself like a Spartan. 'At any rate he has been thoroughly disgraced,' continued Mr Jawstock, 'as a sporting man. He has been driven out of the Beargarden Club.' 'He resigned in disgust at their treatment,' said a friend of the Major's. 'Then let him resign in disgust at ours,' said Mr Jawstock, 'for we won't have him here. Caesar wouldn't keep a wife who was suspected of infidelity, nor will the Runnymede country endure a Master of Hounds who is supposed to have driven a nail into a horse's foot.'
Two or three other gentlemen had something to say before the Major was allowed to speak,--the upshot of the discourse of all of them being the same. The Major must go.
Then the Major got up, and certainly as far as attention went he had full justice done him. However clamorous they might intend to be afterwards that amount of fair play they were all determined to afford him. The Major was not excellent at speaking, but he did perhaps better than might have been expected. 'This is a very disagreeable position,' he said, 'very disagreeable indeed. As for the nail in the horse's foot I know no more about it than the babe unborn. But I've got two things to say, and I'll say what aren't the most consequence first. These hounds belong to me.' Here he paused, and a loud contradiction came from many parts of the room.
Mr Jawstock, however, proposed that the Major should be heard to the end. 'I say they belong to me,' repeated the Major. 'If anybody tries his hand at anything else the law will soon set that to rights. But that aren't of much consequence. What I've got to say is this. Let the matter be referred. If that 'orse had a nail in run into his foot,--and I don't say he hadn't,--who was the man most injured? Why, Lord Silverbridge. Everybody knows that. I suppose he dropped well on to eighty thousand pounds! I propose to leave it to him. Let him say. He ought to know more about it than anyone. He and I were partners in the horse. His Lordship aren't very sweet upon me at the just at present. Nobody need fear that he'll do me a good turn. I say leave it to him.'
