“Nymph, Robert.”
“Yes, sir. I ob-served same a-struggling with Mr. Sturton. Whereupon, your honour, judging the ser-cumstances called for indi-vidual action, I opened hos-tilities forthwith.”
“Did Mr. Sturton receive any—injuries, Robert?”
“Only super-facially, sir. His right ogle, your honour; otherwise he retreated in fairly good order, sir.”
“Whiles you comforted the distressed damsel, Bob?”
“I did my endeavour, sir,” answered the ex-corporal, imperturbable as ever.
“Extreme commendable in you, Robert, for hitherto you have not been precisely a ‘squire o’ dames.’”
“Heretofore, sir, I have preferred horses.”
“And egad,” sighed Sir John wistfully, “’twould almost seem you were the wiser, Bob! For though horses may balk they cannot talk, they may break your neck but they cannot break your heart.... ’S life, Bob, ’tis subject suggestive for a lampoon on the Sex!... ‘The Jade Equine and Feminine,’ or ‘The Horse the Nobler Animal.’ ... It promiseth, Robert, it promiseth!... Hum! Though horses may balk, women will talk; break your necks, falsest sex. Though horses unseat ye they cannot ill-treat ye. What though they be glandered no fame ha’ they slandered. Though horses go lame they never defame. Yes, it promiseth exceeding well!” and out came Sir John’s memorandum. And after he had been thus busied for some minutes, Robert the Imperturbable spoke:
“Pray what are your honour’s orders?”