Major’s, a gentleman who kept livery stables in Long Acre.  ‘We won’t have him here,’ said another farmer,—­whereupon Mr Topps shook his head sadly.  ’I don’t think any gentleman ought to be condemned without a ‘earing,’ said one of Tifto’s admirers, ’and where you’re to get anyone to hunt in the country like him, I don’t know as anybody is prepared to say.’  ‘We’ll manage that,’ said a young gentleman from the neighbourhood of Bagshot, who thought that he could hunt the country himself quite as well as Major Tifto.  ’He must go from here; that’s the long and short of it,’ said Mr Jawstock.  ’Put it to the vote, Mr Jawstock,’ said the livery-stable keeper.  Mr Topps, who had had great experience in public meetings, hereupon expressed an opinion that they might as well go to a vote.  No doubt he was right if the matter was one which must sooner or later be determined in that manner.

Mr Jawstock looked round the room trying to calculate what might be the effect of a show of hands.  The majority was with him; but he was well aware that of this majority some few would be drawn away by the apparent justice of Tifto’s proposition.  And what was the use of voting?  Let them vote as they might, it was out of the question that Tifto should remain master of the hunt.  But the chairman had acceded, and on such occasions it is difficult to go against the chairman.

Then there came a show of hands,—­first for those who desired to refer the matter to Lord Silverbridge, and afterwards for Tifto’s direct enemies,—­for those who were anxious to banish Tifto out of hand, without reference to anyone.  At last the matter was settled.  To the great annoyance of Mr Jawstock and the farmers the meeting voted that Lord Silverbridge should be invited to give his opinion as to the innocence or guilt of his late partner.

The Major’s friends carried the discussion out to him as he sat on horseback, as though he had altogether gained the battle and was secure in his position as Master of the Runnymede Hunt for the next dozen years.  But at the same time there came a message from Mr Mahogany Topps.  It was now half-past two, and Mr Topps expressed a hope that Major Tifto would not draw the country on the present occasion.  The Major, thinking that it might be as well to conciliate his enemies, road slowly and solemnly home to Tally-ho Lodge in the middle of his hounds.

CHAPTER 58

The Major is Deposed

When Silverbridge undertook to return with Tregear to London instead of going direct to Matching, it is to be feared that he was simply actuated by a desire to postpone his further visit to his father’s house.  He had thought that Lady Mabel would surely be gone before his task at Polpenno was completed.  As soon as he should again find himself in his father’s presence he would at once declare his intention of marrying Isabel Boncassen.  But he could not see his way to doing this while Lady Mabel should be in the house.