"Oh, very well indeed. He quite envied me my trip. He says your shooting is about the best thing in this part of the world."
"Oh, it's not bad," I replied, assuming an indifference that I was far from participating in; "but there are times when I assure—ha, ha! it may appear incredulous, that we cannot stir a single feather."
"Have you much snipe, Mr Smithe?"
"Sorra a wan," replied Billy.
"Your gamekeeper?" asked Simpson, jerking his head in the direction of my retainer.
"My factotum. He is one of the family. A regular character, and I trust you will make allowances for him."
"I love characters. Depend upon it we shall not fall out."
Simpson chatted very agreeably, and very small. He had read the Irish Times during the rail journey, and was master of the situation. Some men take five shillings-worth out of a penny paper. This was one of them. He had sucked it all in, and the day's news was coming out through the pores of his skin. As a rule, such men are to be avoided. The individual who persistently asks you "What news?" or "Is there anything new to-day?" is a wooden-headed gossiping bore, who cannot start an idea, and oils the machinery inside his skull with the twopenny-halfpenny daily currency. Simpson spoke a great deal of the army, quoted the various changes mentioned in that day's Gazette with a vigour of memory that was perfectly astounding. Although personally unknown to the countrymen around me, he seemed thoroughly acquainted with their respective pedigrees, their intermarriages, their rent-rolls, and in fact with their most private concerns; so that before we reached our destination I knew considerably more of my neighbours than I, or my father before me, had ever known.
His shooting experiences were of the most extensive and daring character. He had tumbled tigers, stuck pigs, iced white bears, and ostracised ostriches. He had been in the tiger's mouth, on the boar's tusks, and in the arms of the bear. His detailed information on the subject of firearms was worthy of a gunmaker's pet 'prentice.
"I've shot with Greener's patent central-fire choke-bore, and I pronounce it a handy tool. Westley Richards has made some good instruments, and Purdy's performances are crack. I've taken down one of Rigby's with me, as I have some idea of experimentalising; Rigby is a very safe maker. I expect to do some damage to-day, friend Smithe."