A DERBY DIALOGUE

SCENE--_In Town._ JONES _meets_ BROWN.

[Illustration]

_Jones._ Going to Epsom?

_Brown._ No, I think not. Fact is, the place gets duller year by year.

The train has knocked the fun out of the road.

_Jones._ Such a waste of time. Why go in a crowd to see some horses

race, when you can read all about it in the evening papers?

_Brown._ Just so. No fun. No excitement. And the Downs are wretched if

it rains or snows.

_Jones._ Certainly. The luncheon, too, is all very well; but, after all,

it spoils one's dinner.

_Brown._ Distinctly. And champagne at two o'clock is premature.

_Jones._ And lobster-salad undoubtedly indigestible. So it's much

better not to go to the Derby--in spite of the luncheon.

_Brown._ Yes,--in spite of the luncheon.

[Illustration]

(_Two hours pass. Scene changes to Epsom._)

_Jones._ Hullo! You here?

_Brown._ Hullo! And if it comes to that, you here, too?

_Jones._ Well, I really found so little doing in town that I thought I

might be here as well as anywhere else.

_Brown._ Just my case. Not that there's much to see or do. Silly as

usual.

_Jones._ Quite. Always said the Derby was a fraud. But I am afraid, my

dear fellow, I must hurry away, as I have got to get back to my party

for luncheon.

_Brown._ So have I.

[Exeunt severally.

* * * * *

Mr. Punch's Book of Sport The Humour of Cricket, Football, Tennis, Polo, Croquet, Hockey, Racing, &c · 第 99 / 109 题