As the Englishman came up, the royal dogs and huntsmen looked at each
other as though they said, "If we cannot hunt by ourselves his
Majesty's service is insulted."
Beginning with jests, the quarrel presently grew fiercer between
Monsieur Jacquin La Roulie, the old French whipper-in, and John Barry,
the young islander. The two princes guessed from afar the subject of
the altercation, and the Master of the Hunt, setting spurs to his
horse, brought it to an end by saying, in a voice of authority:--
"Who drew the wood?"
"I, monseigneur," said the Englishman.
"Very good," said the Prince de Cadignan, proceeding to take Barry's
report.
Dogs and men became silent and respectful before the Royal Huntsman,
as though each recognized his dignity as supreme. The prince laid out
the day's work; for it is with a hunt as it is with a battle, and the
Master of Charles X.'s hounds was the Napoleon of forests. Thanks to
the admirable system which he has introduced into French venery, he
was able to turn his thoughts exclusively to the science and strategy
of it. He now quietly assigned a special duty to the Prince de
Loudon's establishment, that of driving the stag to water, when, as he
expected, the royal hounds had sent it into the Crown forest which
outlined the horizon directly in front of the chateau.
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