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his house； clad me； fed me； and treated me as if he had been my brother。
I will say this of the English； that they were always generous enemies； and
very good people with whom to fight。
In the Peninsula the Spanish outposts would present their muskets at
ours； but the British their brandy…flasks。 And of all these generous men
there was none who was the equal of this admirable milord； who held out
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so warm a hand to an enemy in distress。
Ah！ what thoughts of sport it brings back to me； the very name of High
Combe！ I can see it now； the long； low brick house； warm and ruddy；
with white plaster pillars before the door。 He was a great sportsman； this
Lord Rufton； and all who were about him were of the same sort。 But you
will be pleased to hear that there were few things in which I could not hold
my own； and in some I excelled。 Behind the house was a wood in which
pheasants were reared； and it was Lord Rufton's joy to kill these birds；
which was done by sending in men to drive them out while he and his
friends stood outside and shot them as they passed。 For my part； I was
more crafty； for I studied the habits of the bird； and stealing out in the
evening I was able to kill a number of them as they roosted in the trees。
Hardly a single shot was wasted； but the keeper was attracted by the sound
of the firing； and he implored me in his rough English fashion to spare
those that were left。 That night I was able to place twelve birds as a
surprise upon Lord Rufton's supper… table； and he laughed until he cried；
so overjoyed was he to see them。 〃Gad； Gerard； you'll be the death of me
yet！〃 he cried。 Often he said the same thing； for at every turn I amazed
him by the way in which I entered into the sports of the English。
There is a game called cricket which they play in the summer； and this
also I learned。 Rudd； the head gardener； was a famous player of cricket；
and so was Lord Rufton himself。 Before the house was a lawn； and here
it was that Rudd taught me the game。 It is a brave pastime； a game for
soldiers； for each tries to strike the other with the ball； and it is but a small
stick with which you may ward it off。 Three sticks behind show the spot
beyond which you may not retreat。 I can tell you that it is no game for
children； and I will confess that； in spite of my nine campaigns； I felt
myself turn pale when first the ball flashed past me。 So swift was it that I
had not time to raise my stick to ward it off； but by good fortune it missed
me and knocked down the wooden pins which marked the boundary。 It
was for Rudd then to defend himself and for me to attack。 When I was a
boy in Gascony I learned to throw both far and straight； so that I made
sure that I could hit this gallant Englishman。
With a shout I rushed forward and hurled the ball at him。 It flew as
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swift as a bullet toward his ribs； but without a word he swung his staff and
the ball rose a surprising distance in the air。 Lord Rufton clapped his
hands and cheered。 Again the ball was brought to me； and again it was
for me to throw。 This time it flew past his head； and it seemed to me that
it was his turn to look pale。
But he was a brave man； this gardener； and again he faced me。 Ah；
my friends； the hour of my triumph had come！ It was a red waistcoat that
he wore； and at this I hurled the ball。 You would have said that I was a
gunner； not a hussar； for never was so straight an aim。 With a despairing
crythe cry of the brave man who is beaten he fell upon the wooden
pegs behind him； and they all rolled upon the ground together。 He was
cruel； this English milord； and he laughed so that he could not come to the
aid of his servant。 It was for me； the victor； to rush forward to embrace
this intrepid player； and to raise him to his feet with words of praise； and
encouragement； and hope。 He was in pain and could not stand erect； yet
the honest fellow confessed that there was no accident in my victory。
〃He did it a…purpose！ He did it a…purpose！〃
Again and again he said it。 Yes； it is a great game this cricket； and I
would gladly have ventured upon it again but Lord Rufton and Rudd said
that it was late in the season； and so they would play no more。
How foolish of me； the old； broken man； to dwell upon these successes；
and yet I will confess that my age has been very much soothed and
comforted by the memory of the women who have loved me and the men
whom I have overcome。 It is pleasant to think that five years afterward；
when Lord Rufton came to Paris after the peace； he was able to assure me
that my name was still a famous one in the north of Devonshire for the
fine exploits that I had performed。 Especially； he said； they still talked
over my boxing match with the Honourable Baldock。 It came about in
this way。 Of an evening many sportsmen would assemble at the house of
Lord Rufton； where they would drink much wine； make wild bets； and talk
of their horses and their foxes。 How well I remember those strange
creatures。 Sir Barrington； Jack Lupton； of Barnstable； Colonel Addison；
Johnny Miller； Lord Sadler； and my enemy； the Honourable Baldock。
They were of the same stamp all of them； drinkers； madcaps； fighters；
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gamblers； full of strange caprices and extraordinary whims。 Yet they
were kindly fellows in their rough fashion； save only this Baldock； a fat
man； who prided himself on his skill at the box…fight。 It was he who； by
his laughter against the French because they were ignorant of sport； caused
me to challenge him in the very sport at which he excelled。 You will say
that it was foolish； my friends； but the decanter had passed many times；
and the blood of youth ran hot in my veins。 I would