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Within two of these nooks, side by side, sat the Duchesse de Montgeron, president, and the Comtesse Desvanneaux, vice-president of the Charity Orphan Asylum; the latter had come to look on at the first essay on the ice of her daughter, Madame de Thomery; the former, to judge the skill of her brother, General the Marquis de Prerolles, past-master in all exercises of strength and skill.
Certainly they were doing it rather well. They were admirably made up, Dicky was a past-master at that sort of thing, and their operations so far had been sufficiently like the genuine article to impose upon the public in general, if we except Champion and Coaldust, even to the point of securing the assistance of the traffic-directing policeman.
Yet he talked but little, and the convivial ways of the small politician were far from him; but in the fine art that can manage men and never let them know they are managed he was a past-master. Tucked in his sleeve, no doubt, was a degree of pride in his power, but the stoic quality in his nature never allowed him to break into laughter when he considered how he led men by the nose.
"Next to actual dining," observed this past-master in the art, "are the anticipations of the table. The pleasure consists in speculation regarding this or that aroma, in classifying the viands and separating this combination of culinary odors into courses of which you will in due time partake. Alas for the poor stroller when the tavern ceases to be!
He was still autocrat of the basement, dropsied with the favor of colonels and generals, deferential to "folks," but a past-master in taking liberties with things.
That, by all the rules in the northland game of which Jan was a past-master, brought Sourdough within seconds of his end. The throat was exposed; the deadly underhold, given which no dog breathing could evade Jan. And at that moment came Dick's voice in very urgent and meaning exhortation: "Back, Jan! Don't kill him. He's too old. Back here Jan!" Jan's jaws had parted for the killing grip.
It was swift, intense fighting from the word, he proving past-master of his weapon, yet my stiff rifle-barrel was no mean defence against his lighter blade, with a reach preventing his point touching my body, and sufficient weight to bear down the thin, murderous steel whenever the two came into contact.
And I have not stayed thy swimmings in the lake, nor thy wanderings in the wood, and thou hast learned bowshot there, till thou art now a past-master in the craft: and, moreover, thou art swift-foot as the best of the deer, and mayest over-run any one of them whom thou wilt. Soothly a merry life hast thou had as a child, and merry now would be thy life, save for thine hatred of me.
They'll come through, I believe it sincerely; and your Chancellor, sweet Princess, will guard you with his life with ten lives, if he had them." "I know that," she murmured, "and shan't worry if you tell me not to." "Then cheer up! Smilax is a past-master of the swamps and woods, take my word for it!"
The young owner did the same, only watching him closely to learn the art of grooming from a past-master of the craft. It was the first time in years that Robin had played hostler; and it was the first time in his life that that horse had ever had such a grooming. Every art known to the professor of the science was applied. Every muscle was rubbed, every sinew was soothed.
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