His collar is so white and stiff and portentous as to make it impossible for him to tighten up his own girths.

His breeches are so breechy about the knees as to render an ascent to the saddle a feat which it is not prudent to attempt without assistance.

His gloves are so large and seamy as to make it extremely difficult to grasp the bridle, and quite impossible to buckle a strap.

Your French horseman is, in fact, rather like a knight of old, inasmuch as his attendants are required to set him on his horse with his face turned in the right direction, his bridle in his left hand, his whip in his right, and, it is to be supposed, his heart in his mouth.

When he is once up there, however, the gallant son of Gaul can teach even some of us, my fox-hunting masters, the way to sit a horse! We have, however, little to do with such matters here, except in so far as they affect the persons connected with this record.