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r of the return lists from big salesmen in London and Manchester, in which the prices range from 7s. 6d. and 6s. 9d. for single birds, down to 1s. 3d. The following salesman's note speaks for itself: ten at 7s. 6d.; twenty at 6s. 6d.; thirty at 5s. 9d.; forty-nine at 4s. 6d.; twenty at 3s. 9d.; twenty at 2s.; twelve at 1s. 6d.--total, one hundred and sixty-one, all priced, be it noted, as single birds. These will have been sent in hampers, and will most likely be disposed of by auction by the salesmen to the West-end poultrymen and game-dealers of London; who in turn will fix the price of the finest of the birds at probably a guinea a brace. The returns for sales are very varied; at times the market is so glutted with grouse, that none of them will bring more, perhaps, than two shillings or half-a-crown. Such loads of grouse in plentiful seasons now reach our populous towns and great cities by the 13th and 14th of August, that this delicious game may be bought at quite a moderate figure.
BY MEAD AND STREAM.
At an early hour Wrentham was with him again, as smartly dressed and hat as glossy as if he had been on his way to a garden-party, or Ascot, which was the more probable expedition for him to be intent on. Whatever he thought of Philip's haggard looks and ruffled dress, which indicated that he had been up all night, he affected not to perceive these signs of a mind perturbed.
'Any letter this morning?' he inquired after a cheerful greeting.
'No letter from Mr Shield,' answered Philip, comprehending the real meaning of the question.
'Droll,' muttered Wrentham, for an instant allowing his disappointment to appear. 'Should have thought he would not have failed to write last night, knowing what a corner you are in. Never mind. I daresay he means to send the answer by messenger, and he can't back out of giving you a lift, seeing that he is pledged to do so.'
'He may be annoyed--he has reason enough to be so--and may refuse. What then?'
Wrentham shrugged his shoulders and smiled complacently.
'Why, then, my dear old man, you must go in for the whitewash.'
'The what?'
He ran over a long list of notable commercial men who had undergone 'the whitewash,' as he termed it, in his flippant way, who had never done any good until they underwent the ordeal, and who were now wealthy and respected. He spoke of them with genuine admiration, and concluded with the declaration of his ambition to go through the Court once again: then, success was certain.
Philip stared at him. Surely the man would not dare to jest at such a time as this; and yet the species of consolation he offered him was very like a cruel jest. But it was impossible to look at Wrentham's cheerful confident countenance and doubt his sincerity.
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