"Hay, sir—me lud, I mean," answered Tom, falling in with the humour of the situation.
"Oh! hay, of course," said Scarsdale.
"How much, your lordship?" queried the mayor.
"How much? Confound it! how should I know? Do you take me for an elephant trainer?" A remark which nearly reduced his worship to chaos; but Scarsdale, relenting, added:
"Say five or six tons—I don't know."
"But it is not easy, my lord, to procure such an amount at short notice," expostulated the official.
"Oh, then, get him a waggon-load or two as a first course, and we'll find something else a little later."
"It shall be procured at once. I—er—trust your lordship will not take it amiss, since you will not dine with me, if I offer you a glass of—shall we say champagne?"
"With pleasure," said Scarsdale.
"And her ladyship?" looking towards the carriage.