almost immediately became a gallop.

"The dear fellow," said his master, "would not gallop like that if he
were on the hard road; he knows I would not like it."

"But, excuse me, how can the animal convey your message?--how
communicate what he knows, if he does understand what you say to him?"

"He will at least take care that the housekeeper look in his mane for
the knot which perhaps you did not observe me tie in it."

"You have a code of signals by knots then?"

"Yes--comprising about half a dozen possibilities.--I hope you do not
object to the message I sent! You will do me the honour of lunching
with me?"

"You are most kind," I answered--with a little hesitation, I suppose,
fearing to bore my new acquaintance.

"Don't make me false to horse and housekeeper, Mr. Gowrie," he
resumed.--"I put the horse first, because I could more easily explain
the thing to Mrs. Waterhouse than to Memnon."

"Could you explain it to Memnon?"

"I should have a try!" he answered, with a peculiar smile.

"You hold yourself bound then to keep faith with your horse?"