How
nice!
I immediately went to work at getting off my spurs and boots, and
then proceeded to loosen the buttons at my knees. In doing this I
sat down in the arm-chair which had been drawn up for me, opposite
the fire. But what was the object on which my eyes then fell;--the
objects I should rather say!
Immediately in front of my chair was placed, just ready for may feet,
an enormous pair of shooting-boots--half-boots made to lace up round
the ankles, with thick double leather soles, and each bearing half a
stone of iron in the shape of nails and heel-pieces. I had
superintended the making of these shoes in Burlington Arcade with the
greatest diligence. I was never a good shot; and, like some other
sportsmen, intended to make up for my deficiency in performance by
the excellence of my shooting apparel. "Those nails are not large
enough," I had said; "nor nearly large enough." But when the boots
came home they struck even me as being too heavy, too metalsome.
"He, he, he," laughed the boot boy as he turned them up for me to
look at. It may therefore be imagined of what nature were the
articles which were thus set out for the evening's dancing.
And then the way in which they were placed! When I saw this the
conviction flew across my mind like a flash of lightning that the
preparation had been made under other eyes than those of the servant.
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