THE BARGAIN COMPLETED 259 



I have had enough to do with all sorts and conditions 

 of men to know how forgetful they are in business 

 matters of this sort, and that, in them, none are so 

 likely to make a mistake as gentlemen ; often to the 

 injury and annoyance of both parties to the contract, 

 yet without the remotest intention of causing a dispute, 

 but simply because they pay no attention to the matter. 



On this occasion I asked Lord William to come into 

 Messrs. Tattersall's office, when a note was made in 

 writing, signed by his lordship, and witnessed by Mr. 

 Tattersall. I felt I had done the right thing this time, 

 although for the little ceremony of attestation I had to 

 pay a commission of 125, which I gladly did, knowing it 

 to be customary, and regarding it as insurance money. 

 I returned home, took the horse the next day to Epsom, 

 and delivered him to the trainer, Sam Rogers ; arranged 

 with Messrs. Weatherby to witness a verbal agreement 

 as to the mode of payment by Lord William's desire. 

 The bargain was completed, and a cheque for the money 

 received in due course ; and thus ended, in the sale of 

 Promised Land, one of the luckiest deals I ever made, if 

 his purchase may not be considered the more fortunate 

 of the two. 



I have given my reasons for selling him ; but I must 

 say here that he was the soundest horse alive, and 

 showed that he was in form at the time by having won 

 me three races in succession that spring ; and, as if by 

 way of contrast, after he was sold, he lost the like 

 number, without adding further to his previous well- 

 earned fame. But of Promised Land and his perform- 

 ances I shall have something more to say later, in 

 connection with the gentleman who was part owner of 

 the horse, Mr. Robinson. I have here only related the 

 incidents connected with his sale, and may now go on to 



