"He did not beat me by so much," continued Popplecourt. "I think Tregear did the best with his rifle. One morning he potted three. Dobbes was disgusted. He hated Tregear."
"Isn't it stupid,—half-a-dozen men getting together in that way?" asked Lady Cantrip.
"Nidderdale is always jolly."
"I am glad to hear that," said the mother-in-law.
"And Gerald is a regular brick." The Duke bowed. "Silverbridge used always to be going off to Killancodlem, where there were a lot of ladies. He is very sweet, you know, on this American girl whom you have here." Again the Duke winced. "Dobbes is awfully good as to making out the shooting, but then he is a tyrant. Nevertheless I agree with him, if you mean to do a thing you should do it."
"Certainly," said the Duke. "But you should make up your mind first whether the thing is worth doing."
"Just so," said Popplecourt. "And as grouse and deer together are about the best things out, most of us made up our minds that it was worth doing. But that fellow Tregear would argue it out. He said a gentleman oughtn't to play billiards as well as a marker."
"I think he was right," said the Duke.
"Do you know Mr. Tregear, Duke?"
"I have met him—with my son."