CABRIOLETS. 247 



Upon the following morning my worst fears 

 were realised ; Elmore was dead lame ; and when 

 I reported this to his Grace, his only answer 

 was, 



" I cannot afford to run the chance of losing 

 my best horses ; so, in future, you shall have 

 the brown horse and the chestnut mare, and 

 if you knock them up you must mount your- 

 self." 



In a previous chapter I have referred to a 

 carriage accident that occurred to Wellington 

 when I was with him ; and it is somewhat 

 strange that I should again be by his side, and 

 in a great measure the cause of a second mis- 

 fortune. 



I own myself that I regret cabriolets are no 

 longer the fashion. For a man that can afford 

 to keep a number of carriages, a victoria and 

 brougham are all very well ; but the former is 

 only available in fine weather, whereas a cabriolet 

 with a projecting head could defy most showers 

 of rain. A well-appointed cabriolet was a com- 

 fortable and gentleman-like conveyance, and, 

 for the bachelor, did the duty of a close car- 

 riage at half the expense. A perfect cabriolet 

 horse, however, costs money, and the equipage 

 must be well turned out. A seedy-looking 



