Martha fled down the passage.
"Oh my! What a tremendious dog that is, to be sure!" she was heard to exclaim as she disappeared into the back of the cottage.
"May I come in ?" asked Mr.Juxon, rather timidly and with an expression of amused perplexity on his brown face.

"Lie down, Stamboul!" "Oh, bring him in, too," said Mrs.Goddard coming forward and taking Mr.
Juxon's hand.

"I am so fond of dogs." Indeed she was rather embarrassed and was glad of the diversion.
"He is really very quiet," said the squire apologetically, "only he is a little impetuous about getting into a house." Then, seeing that Mrs.
Goddard looked at the enormous animal with some interest and much wonder, he added, "he is a Russian bloodhound--perhaps you never saw one?
He was given to me in Constantinople, so I call him Stamboul--good name for a big dog is not it ?" "Very," said Mrs.Goddard rather nervously.

Stamboul was indeed an exceedingly remarkable beast.

Taller than the tallest mastiff, he combined with his gigantic strength and size a grace and swiftness of motion which no mastiff can possess.