The Life of a Great Sportsman 



eyes with an all too delicate hand and said, " I should have 

 recognized you anywhere." 



He had allotted me a full hour, and after that was to 

 interview an Indian Potentate, some very big man indeed, he 

 said. He told me that, and it was easy to judge from his 

 manner that colour at least with him made no difference to his 

 feeling of respect for genuine worth. 



Sorry as I was not to chat with him longer, and bitterly 

 disappointed as I am never to have seen him again, I am glad 

 I did not take up my full hour of his precious time nor add my 

 selfish share to his weariness. Although he asked me to stay, 

 and seemed very sorry, I insisted on going before my time 

 was up. 



And now I come to a very sad part of my story, and one 

 that has caused me great disappointment. In that not only 

 have I lost in Lord Minto a reader who would have been as 

 interested in my book as I am myself, and would have been 

 kindly critical into the bargain, but he was unable through his 

 illness to finish the all but completed "Impression" he had 

 contemplated, indeed made notes of, for my book. 



As lately as January ist, 19 14, I had this letter from him : 



"Dec. 31st, 1913. 

 11 Minto House, 

 " N.B. 



" My dear Miss Richardson, 



"In case you may think I have forgotten my 

 promise about a few notes * to you about dear old Maunsell, I 

 write to say that I have scribbled down a few things, but my 

 typist is away for a holiday, and I suppose will be back in 

 about a week, when I will send them to you. 



* Since this was written Lady Minto has kindly sent me the extract from her late 

 husband's diary and what he had written to the time of his death of his " Impression." 

 —See Chapter XIX., " Reminiscent." 



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