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12 was slightly afflicted by the aristocratic complaint of deafness—the Earl answered with a smile.

"The complaint of shooting!—very good indeed, Mr. Brandon; it is seldom that I have heard so witty a phrase. No, I am not in the least troubled with that epidemic. It is a disorder very prevalent in this county."

"My Lord!" said the Squire, rather puzzled—and then observing that Mauleverer did not continue, he thought it expedient to start another subject.

"I was exceedingly grieved to hear that your Lordship, in travelling to Mauleverer Park—(that is a very ugly road across the waste land; the roads in this county are in general pretty good—for my own part, when I was a magistrate I was very strict in that respect)—was robbed. You have not yet I believe detected—(for my part, though I do not profess to be much of a politician, I do think that in affairs of robbery there is a great deal of remissness in the ministers)—the villains!"

"Our friend is disaffected!" thought the Lord Lieutenant, imagining that the last