FIRST REAL TOUCH 



twenty minutes. In the meantime I waited in the 

 library, and an elderly man came in, who introduced 

 himself to me as the Australian's uncle. It was the 

 day before the Derby. I was wishing to go to Epsom, 

 but it was not altogether convenient, the bank-roll, 

 being at an end-of-the-month stage. However, I 

 must have looked " going strong " as I threw open 

 my frock-coat revealing an expanse of waistcoat and 

 a gold chain — we treasured them in those days. 



" Going to the Derby ? " asked my host. " You 

 ought to get Claude to take you ; I shall tell him to get 

 a hansom, and perhaps you will be his guide." 



"Delighted, sir," I replied. "I'll show him the 

 ropes," I added airily. 



He came over to me and said impressively : " Do 

 you fancy Sefton ? " 



" Very much ; I think he has a great chance." I 

 may say that I really fancied Insulaire — one of Count 

 de Lagrange's — an owner to be feared and revered. 



" Well then, I'll tell you what I'll do : I'll lay you 

 thirty-five pounds to five pounds to win, and fourteen 

 pounds to eight pounds for a place." The figures 

 rather bewildered me — fancy putting thirteen pounds 

 on a horse when I only had as many shillings ! I 

 hesitated, and naturally. 



" A little too much ? " he queried. " Well then, 

 only seven pounds to four for a place ? " 



" Thank you very much," I assented ; " that will 

 do excellently." 



"You see," he continued, " I have just drawn Sefton 

 in the sweep at the Thatched House " — his club — " and 

 I want to lay a bit off. That will do me admirably ; 

 I shall lay Claude seven to four also for a place, and 

 I think you both will win the place bet." At this 

 moment in walked the hopeful nephew. I had never 



