human
Going to dine here, Dolly?
gpt
I suppose I shall, because it's such a lot of trouble to go anywhere else. I'm engaged somewhere, I know; but I'm not up to getting home and dressing. By George! I don't know how fellows do that kind of thing. I can't.
human
Going to hunt to-morrow?
gpt
Well, yes; but I don't suppose I shall. I was going to hunt every day last week, but my fellow never would get me up in time. I can't tell why it is that things are done in such a beastly way. Why shouldn't fellows begin to hunt at two or three, so that a fellow needn't get up in the middle of the night?
human
Because one can't ride by moonlight, Dolly.
gpt
It isn't moonlight at three. At any rate I can't get myself to Euston Square by nine. I don't think that fellow of mine likes getting up himself. He says he comes in and wakes me, but I never remember it.
human
How many horses have you got at Leighton, Dolly?
gpt
How many? There were five, but I think that fellow down there sold one; but then I think he bought another. I know he did something.
human
Who rides them?
gpt
He does, I suppose. That is, of course, I ride them myself, only I so seldom get down. Somebody told me that Grasslough was riding two of them last week. I don't think I ever told him he might. I think he tipped that fellow of mine; and I call that a low kind of thing to do. I'd ask him, only I know he'd say that I had lent them. Perhaps I did when I was tight, you know.
human
You and Grasslough were never pals.
gpt
I don't like him a bit. He gives himself airs because he is a lord, and is devilish ill-natured. I don't know why he should want to ride my horses.
human
To save his own.
gpt
He isn't hard up. Why doesn't he have his own horses? I'll tell you what, Carbury, I've made up my mind to one thing, and, by Jove, I'll stick to it. I never will lend a horse again to anybody. If fellows want horses let them buy them.
human
But some fellows haven't got any money, Dolly.
gpt
Then they ought to go tick. I don't think I've paid for any of mine I've bought this season. There was somebody here yesterday--
human
What! here at the club?
gpt
Yes; followed me here to say he wanted to be paid for something! It was horses, I think, because of the fellow's trousers.
human
What did you say?
gpt
Me! Oh, I didn't say anything.
human
And how did it end?
gpt
When he'd done talking I offered him a cigar, and while he was biting off the end I went up-stairs. I suppose he went away when he was tired of waiting.
human
I'll tell you what, Dolly; I wish you'd let me ride two of yours for a couple of days,--that is, of course, if you don't want them yourself. You ain't tight now, at any rate.
gpt
No; I ain't tight,
human
I mean that I wouldn't like to borrow your horses without your remembering all about it. Nobody knows as well as you do how awfully done up I am. I shall pull through at last, but it's an awful squeeze in the meantime. There's nobody I'd ask such a favour of except you.
gpt
Well, you may have them;--that is, for two days. I don't know whether that fellow of mine will believe you. He wouldn't believe Grasslough, and told him so. But Grasslough took them out of the stables. That's what somebody told me.
human
You could write a line to your groom.
gpt
Oh, my dear fellow, that is such a bore; I don't think I could do that. My fellow will believe you, because you and I have been pals. I think I'll have a little drop of curaþoa before dinner. Come along and try it. It'll give us an appetite.
human
I'm going to hunt to-morrow, said Sir Felix,--meaning that day,--
gpt
I don't see it at all, said Lord Grasslough.
human
It's an understood thing that when a man has won as much as you have he should stay.
gpt
Stay how long? said Sir Felix, with an angry look.
human
That's nonsense; there must be an end of everything, and there's an end of this for me to-night.
gpt
Oh, if you choose,
human
I do choose. Good night, Dolly; we'll settle this next time we meet. I've got it all entered.