Publisher's Synopsis
On a wintry morning at the close of 1690, the sun shining faint and red through a light fog, there was a great noise of baying dogs, loud voices, and trampling of horses in thecourtyard at Wildairs Hall; Sir Jeoffry being about to go forth a-hunting, and being a manwith a choleric temper and big, loud voice, and given to oaths and noise even when in goodhumour, his riding forth with his friends at any time was attended with boisterouscommotion. This morning it was more so than usual, for he had guests with him who hadcome to his house the day before, and had supped late and drunk deeply, whereby the dayfound them, some with headaches, some with a nausea at their stomachs, and some only inan evil humour which made them curse at their horses when they were restless, and breakinto loud surly laughs when a coarse joke was made. There were many such jokes, SirJeoffry and his boon companions being renowned throughout the county for the freedom oftheir conversation as for the scandal of their pastimes, and this day 'twas well indeed, astheir loud-voiced, oath-besprinkled jests rang out on the cold air, that there were no ladiesabout to ride forth with them.'Twas Sir Jeoffry who was louder than any other, he having drunk even deeper than therest, and though 'twas his boast that he could carry a bottle more than any man, and see allhis guests under the table, his last night's bout had left him in ill-humour andboisterous. He strode about, casting oaths at the dogs and rating the servants, and when hemounted his big black horse 'twas amid such a clamour of voices and baying hounds thatthe place was like Pandemonium
