82 RACING. 



the tout, the latter for the most part lounging round in the in- 

 souciant follow-my-leader fashion characteristic of the trained 

 thoroughbred. At the far side stands a range of stalls 

 and boxes, and in one of these they find Paul Pry being 

 saddled. 



A mighty chestnut colt 16-2 big, long in his points and 

 good all over, though perhaps open to the suspicion of being 

 just a trifle loaded at the point of the shoulder. With ears 

 slightly pricked, and his bright full eye fixed on the door, the 

 opening and shutting of which appears to afford him the 

 keenest interest, he stands like a statue during the ceremony 

 of his toilette, save when now and then he rubs his nose 

 affectionately against the sleeve of his special attendant who is 

 holding the bridle. 



'Looks well, my lord,' remarks the trainer 'well and 

 confident, as I like to see them ; hope we may like him as 

 much later on in the afternoon ! ' he adds, bound in virtue of 

 his profession to throw in a word of doubt or depreciation. 



Two or three ladies, accompanied by as many men, now 

 slip in, by special permission of the owner, and scan the chest- 

 nut with curious glances. The fair ones, as is the custom of 

 their sex, mistake muscle for fat, and cherish a secret conviction 

 that the horse has done no more work than an alderman ; they 

 are, however, discreetly silent on this point, while displaying a 

 knowledge of his antecedents, and an intimacy with his trainer 

 and the head lad, which greatly edifies and amuses Lord Olim. 

 Seeing there is no chance of a word in private where they 

 are, Mat makes a sign to his employer and Sir Laudator, 

 and the three step out into the paddock. After satisfying 

 himself that there is no one actually within earshot, the trainer 

 enters at once into business. 



' Now, my lord, your horse is just as well as I can make 

 him. You know how we tried him, and he has never missed an 

 oat or a gallop since ; indeed, he had one more gallop than I 

 had bargained for. It was the day before yesterday ; he had 

 had his spin, and then broke clean away with that young 



