'And the lachryma christi, Hermitage hock, and tokay, with the West India sweetmeats?'
'All right.'
'Well, 'tis an untoward business enough, but it might have been worse, nephew,' said Mr. Clairmont, consoled to think all his hampers were in a sound state.
'True, sir,' replied Sir William, 'infinitely worse. You have escaped broken bones, and out of four horses have lost only one.'
'Then are all the rest safe and sound, coachman?' asked his master.
'Quite well, sir, only terribly frightened, like some of us,' replied the man, smiling on one side of his face, and blushing as well as he could on the other, 'but life is sweet to us all, and who would not have run away from that frightful beast?' looking at the tiger.
'What a beautiful animal it was!' said Mr. Stanhope to William.
'Very beautiful indeed, sir,' replied William, 'and if I were rich I would buy its coat, and make a present of it to mother for a hearthrug.'
'A very good thought, my boy,' said Mr. Clairmont, 'and you shall have it, if it is to be sold.'
'Are you the proprietor of this unfortunate animal?' said the baronet.