88 SHANDROVKA 



" But," I replied, "His Royal Highness marchandcd with 

 me for the grey gelding." This indiscreet remark closed 

 the conversation. General Derfelden also tried to bring me 

 to reason, and represented to me that the Grand Duke had 

 nothing to say to the granting of money, which was entirely 

 the affair of the Minister of War, who, so the General said, 

 was of a very economical turn of mind. Finally, General 

 Palitzyne, who is chief of the Cavalry Staff, desired me to 

 communicate in writing my views and terms through him to 

 the Minister of War. In the letter I sent in, I asked for a 

 six months' engagement, which I thought would be long 

 enough, 80 guineas (800 roubles) a month, and first - class 

 travelling expenses. 



As the breaking season would not commence until the 

 following August, I prepared to go home ; but before doing 

 so, I picked up some more orders for horses. Mr. von 

 Dervis, who is a very rich Guardsman, asked me to bring him 

 out two Irish "cob-hunter" mares, about 15.1 high, with short 

 backs, long reins, good fore legs, small heads, high set up tails, 

 fine action, very showy, and dead quiet. As I have never 

 gone in for the cob-hunter style of animal, I suggested 

 " something of the blood weight-carrying polo pony type, 

 only a bit bigger." " Not that sort at all. I hate thorough- 

 breds," he replied. As I could find no dictionary that gave 

 a definition of a " cob-hunter," I consulted Colonel Kasnakof, 

 who told me that Mr. von Dervis wanted " double poneys" 

 Here at last I had something I could go on ; for I remembered 

 that Goubeau and Barrier's Extlrieur du Cheval contains a 

 description of a " doiible poney." A perusal of that work 

 convinced me that the required cob - hunters must have a 

 hackney cross. 



On returning to England, I advertised, attended Warner, 

 Sheppard and Wade's, as well as Tattersall's, and consulted 

 dealers and horsey men by the score ; but in vain, for I could 



