‘Your mother tells me,’ said Roger, ‘that you still keep hunters.’

’I don’t know what she calls hunters.  I have one that I didn’t part with when the others went.’

‘You have only one horse?’

’Well;—­if you want to be exact, I have a hack as well as the horse I ride.’

‘And another up here in town?’

’Who told you that?  No; I haven’t.  At least there is one staying at some stables which, has been sent for me to look at.’

‘Who pays for all these horses?’

‘At any rate I shall not ask you to pay for them.’

’No;—­you would be afraid to do that.  But you have no scruple...