‘Very true,’ said Stephen, tossing the vulture a piece of gristle. ‘In general fenum habent in cornu. But surely,’ he said, smiling at Mr Florey, ‘you are not throwing out a generality about cuckolds? Do not you choose to be more specific? Or do you perhaps refer to the young person under the sheet? I know you speak from your excellent heart, and I assure you no degree of frankness can possibly offend.’
Harte is the vulture, and JA’s conduct gives Harte the meat
Fenum habent in cornu - Horace Satires 1
The hay was used on oxen inclined to gore as a padding and danger sign. Habet (singular) means ‘he’s a dangerous man’. SM uses this pun to imply that the dangerous man will gore as he has been given horns. (Harte)
