Claude smiled and shrugged. "Thank you, sir, I was aware of the English custom in this case. But I am here to amuse myself. I make you an offer, sir. Examine my weight and my build, and try my riding before you refuse it."
He stood up for the small group to judge his weight, and this they proceeded to do with calm assurance and unsparing observation.
"Not much over five stone, I stake my oath!" remarked Jennings, measuring the slender figure with his eye.
"A shade over. Might train a little," commented Paca.
"Not much strength," whispered Fairfield, dubiously, to Vincent.
"I shall not be pulling the horse in after the first half-minute," observed Claude, quietly.
"Ahum—can you ride?" grunted Rockwell, when there came a pause.
De Mailly flushed. "There is a story that when M. de Voltaire was in London he was asked by a lady if he had ever tried writing verses when he was in love, as was the custom among English gentlemen."
"Well—what then?" retorted the reverend, irritably.
Claude turned and stared at him with such a mixture of scorn and laughter in his eyes that Trevor hastily broke in: