78 RACING. 



seen cantering up, surrounded by his aides-de-camp, to do his 

 own and part of the stable commission, a trifle late maybe, for 

 he has lingered for a few last words with trainer and jockey ; 

 but little recks he of price, when, as he now calculates, he has 

 a stone in hand, though of this advantage he has relinquished 

 3 Ibs. to secure the services of Fordham. He slackens speed as 

 he passes through the thin line of carriages, from which come 

 shrill plaintive cries of 'One moment, Lord H ! ' ' Dear Lord 

 H., do come here for one second ! ' ' We do so want to know 

 something, Lord H ! ' But absorbed in the lighting of a cigarette, 

 or in some jest of Peter the henchman, or at any rate con- 

 veniently deaf to the voice of the charmer, he rides straight 

 into the horsemen's circle, where two obliging friends speedily 

 make room for him, and he takes up his position on the heavy 

 betting side. 



' They're laying odds on yours, my lord,' says a bookmaker, 

 who, with his partner at his elbow, has been waiting, as he ex- 

 presses it, to get done with the favourite in one big bet. ' It's 

 been backed for a heap of money. I suppose it's a real good 

 thing,' he adds, looking up almost wistfully into the impertur- 

 bable young face. ' What odds ? ' replies the owner, blandly 

 ignoring the query. ' Well, my lord, I'll take your six hundred 

 to four twice ; nay, I'll take you six monkeys to four once,' he 

 continues, waxing bolder despite the warning nudges and 

 gestures of his less enterprising confederate. ' Put it down,' is 

 the brief response. ' And me three hundred to two, my lord ; ' 

 ' and me, and me,' clamour a swarm of pencillers who come 

 clustering up. ' Done with you, and you, and you ' the bets 

 are booked as freely as they are proffered. ' And now, my lord, 

 I'll take you thirty-five hundred to two thousand in a bet, if 

 you've a mind for a bit extra,' says one who has just forced his 

 way through the throng. ' Right you are, and so you shall ! ' 

 replies the owner cheerily, expanding under the influence of 

 the biggest bet he has made that day. Then the smaller fry 

 with seventies to forties, and seven ponies to four, are duly en- 

 registered, and time being nearly up, the Marquis wheels his 



