In an ordinary way, Jogglebury would have said, ‘if you please,’ at the sound of the words ‘cold meat,’ for he was a dead hand at luncheon; but the fix he was in completely took away his appetite, and he sat wheezing and thinking whether to make another effort, or to wait the arrival of Leather.

Presently Leather appeared, jean-jacketed and gaitered, smoothing his hair over his forehead, after the manner of the brotherhood.

‘Leather,’ said Mr Sponge, in the same tone of importance, ‘I’m going to this gentleman’s:’ for as yet he had not sufficiently mastered the name to be able to venture upon it in the owner’s presence. ‘Leather, I’m going to this gentleman’s, and I want you to bring me a horse over in the morning; or stay,’ said he, interrupting himself, and, turning to Jogglebury, he exclaimed, ‘I dare say you could manage to put me up a couple of horses, couldn’t you? and then we should be all cosy and jolly together, you know.’

‘ ’Pon my word,’ gasped Jogglebury, nearly choked by the proposal; ‘ ’pon my word, I can hardly (puff) say, I hardly (wheeze) know, but if you’ll (puff -- wheeze) allow me, I’ll tell you what I’ll do: I’ll (puff -- wheeze) home, and see what I can (puff) do in the way of entertainment for (puff -- wheeze) man as well as for (puff -- wheeze) horse.’

‘Oh, thank you, my dear fellow!’ exclaimed Sponge, seeing the intended dodge; ‘thank you, my dear fellow!’ repeated he; ‘but that’s giving you too much trouble -- far too much trouble! -- couldn’t think of such a thing -- no, indeed, I couldn’t. I’ll, tell you what we’ll do -- I’ll tell you what we’ll do. You shall drive me over in that shandrydan-rattletrap thing of yours’ -- Sponge looking out of the window, as he spoke at the queer-shaped, jumped-together, lack-lustre-looking vehicle, with a turnover seat behind, now in charge of a pepper-and-salt attired youth, with a shabby hat, looped up by a thin silver cord to an acorn on the crown, and baggy Berlin gloves -- ‘and I’ll just see what there is in the way of stabling; and if I think it will do, then I’ll give a boy sixpence or a shilling to come over to Leather, here,’ jerking his head towards his factotum; ‘if it won’t do, why then -- ’

‘We shall want three stalls, sir -- recollect, sir,’ interrupted Leather, who did not wish to move his quarters.

‘True, I forgot,’ replied Sponge, with a frown at his servant’s officiousness; ‘however, if we can get two good stalls for the hunters,’ said he, ‘we’ll manage the hack somehow or other.’

‘Well,’ replied Mr Leather, in a tone of resignation, knowing how hopeless it was arguing with his master.

‘I really think,’ gasped Mr Jogglebury Crowdey, encouraged by the apparent sympathy of the servant to make a last effort -- ‘I really think,’ repeated he, as the hashed mutton and haddocks again flashed across his mind, ‘that my (puff -- wheeze) plan is the (puff) best; let me (puff -- wheeze) home and see how all (puff -- wheeze) things are, and then I’ll write you a (puff wheeze) line, or send a (puff -- wheeze) servant over.’

‘Oh, no,’ replied Mr Sponge -- ‘oh, no -- that’s far too much trouble. I’ll just go over with you now and reconnoitre.’

‘I’m afraid Mrs (puff -- wheeze) Crowdey will hardly be prepared for (puff -- wheeze) visitors,’ ejaculated our friend, recollecting it was washing-day, and that Mary Ann would be wanted in the laundry.

‘Don’t mention it!’ exclaimed Mr Sponge; ‘don’t mention it. I hate to be made company of. Just give me what you have yourselves -- just give me what you have yourselves. Where two can dine, three can dine, you know.’

Mr Jogglebury Crowdey was nonplussed.