We all know that very clever distich concerning the great fleas and the little fleas which tell us that no animal is too humble to have its parasite. Even Major Tifto had his inferior friend. This was a certain Captain Green,--for the friend also affected military honours. Tifto, of whose antecedents no one was supposed to know anything. It was presumed of him that he lived by betting, and it was boasted by those who wished to defend his character that when he lost he paid his money like a gentleman. Tifto during the last year or two had been anxious to support Captain Green, and had always made use of this argument; 'Where the D- he gets his money I don't know;--but when he loses it, there it is.'
Major Tifto had a little 'box' of his own in the neighbourhood of Egham, at which he had a set of stables a little bigger than his house, and a set of kennels a little bigger than his stables. It was here he kept his horses and hounds, and himself too when business connected with his sporting life did not take him to town. It was now the middle of August and he had come to Tally-ho Lodge, there to look after his establishments, to make arrangements for cub-hunting, and to prepare for the autumn racing campaign. On this occasion Captain Green was enjoying his hospitality and assisting him by sage counsels. Behind the little box was a little garden,--a garden that was very little; but, still, thus close to the parlour window, there was room for a small table to be put on the grass-plat, and for a couple of armchairs. Here the Major and the Captain were seated about eight o'clock one evening, with convivial good things within their reach. The good things were gin-and-water and pipes. The two gentlemen had not dressed strictly for dinner. They had spent a great part of the day handling the hounds and the horses, dressing wounds, curing sores, and ministering to canine ailments, and had been detained over their work too long to think of their toilet.
As it was they had an eye to business. The stables at one corner and the kennels at the other were close to the little garden, and the doings of a man and a boy who were still at their work could be directed from the armchairs on which the two sportsmen were sitting.
It must be explained that ever since the Silverbridge election there had been a growing feeling in Tifto's mind that he had been ill-treated by his partner. The feeling was strengthened by the admirable condition of Prime Minister. Surely more consideration had been due to a man who had produced such a state of things?
'I wouldn't quarrel with him, but I'd make him pay his way,' said the prudent Captain.
'As for that, of course he does pay,--his share.'
'Who does all the work?'
'That's true.'
'The fact is, Tifto, you don't make enough out of it. When a small man like you has to deal with a big man like that, he may take it out of him in one of two ways. But he mist be deuced clever if he can get it both ways.'
'What are you driving at?' asked Tifto, who did not like being called a small man, feeling himself to be every inch a master of foxhounds.
'Why, this!-Look at d- fellow fretting that 'orse with a switch.
If you can't strap a 'orse without a stick in your hand, don't you strap him at all, you--' Then there came volley of abuse out of the Captain's mouth, in the middle of which the man threw down the rubber he was using and walked away.
'You come back,' halloed Tifto, jumping up from his seat with his pipe in his mouth. Then there was a general quarrel between the man and his two masters, in which the man was at last victorious.
And the horse was taken into the stable in an unfinished condition. 'It's all very well to say "Get rid of him", but where am I to get anybody better? It has come to such a pass that now if you speak to a fellow he walks out of the yard.'
They then returned to the state of affairs, as it was between Tifto and Lord Silverbridge. 'What I was saying is this,' continued the Captain. 'If you choose to put yourself up to live with a fellow like that on equal terms--'
'One gentleman with another, you mean?'
'Put it so. it don't quite hit it off, but put it so. why then you get your wages when you take his arm and call him Silverbridge.'
'I don't want wages from any man,' said the indignant Major.
'That comes from not knowing what wages is. I do want wages. If I do a thing I like to be paid for it. You are paid for it after one fashion, I prefer the other.'
'Do you mean he should give me--a salary?'