It is to be presumed that De Lancaster was punctilious in returning the visit of every gentleman, who had dined with him at the castle. On these occasions he was constantly accompanied by his grandson, so that the old state coach and fat horses were for a time in more than ordinary requisition.
Whilst they were upon a visit at Sir Arthur Floyd’s a very beautiful horse, which was purposely led out of the stable, attracted every body’s notice, and particularly that of our young hero, who ran out of doors to have a nearer view of him. A little stable-boy was mounted on his back, and put him through his paces on the lawn before the house: the gentleness of the fine animal was as much to be admired as the beauty. John was asked if he would back him; the proposal was immediately accepted, and as there was a fine expanse of lawn for John’s equestrian performances, he took a considerable circuit, and having given a very handsome specimen of his jockeyship, returned in perfect raptures with the horse, pronouncing him to be incomparably the best he had ever mounted, his lamented favourite Glendowr alone excepted. The horse was put into the stable, and nothing more passed upon the subject at that time.
In the evening John returned with his grandfather to the castle, when upon stepping out of the coach, a letter was put into his hand, that had the signature of the several gentlemen of the new coalition, and was to the following purport—
“Dear Sir,
As you seemed pleased with the horse, which we invited you to make trial of, we have taken the liberty of putting him into your stable, and jointly request that you will not refuse to gratify us by your acceptance of him. When we tell you he is full brother to Glendowr, we flatter ourselves we cannot better recommend him to you, and when we assure you, that we can no otherwise be reconciled to the disgrace of our late connection with Sir David Owen, except by your allowing us to present you with this token of our esteem, we trust you will not mortify us by a refusal.
We have the honour to be,
&c. &c.”
Though John was highly delighted with this present, he did not consider himself secure in the possession of it, till he had submitted the letter to his grandfather. The good old man was under no difficulty as to his decision, for luckily this was one of the few questions, that in his contemplation did not wear two faces; so that he said at once, applying himself to his friend Colonel Wilson—I see no reason why my grandson should decline this very handsome compliment.
There is no reason, said the colonel.
And why is there none? rejoined the other: why, but because a horse, or a sword, is by all the rules of chivalry, a present of honour, which it is no degradation to accept, though it were tendered to a general or a prince?
I conceive it degrades no man to accept a present from a friend.