GIVING WINNERS IN PARIS 



the time, and went to Longchamp with an American. 

 He had been introduced to me by a very great friend, 

 and was spending a few days in Paris. I asked him to 

 luncheon at Armenonville, after which I had my work 

 to attend to. He was very anxious to have a Httle 

 speculation on the events of the day at the races. 

 I had certain clear ideas about the day's card, which 

 included a handicap for which there was likely to be 

 about twenty runners. He asked m*^. if I would put 

 some money on for him, but I had a lot of things to 

 attend to that day, besides which I made it almost 

 a principle that I would not undertake commissions 

 for anyone. There was a lot of talk in Paris about 

 " gentlemen taking other gentlemen racing," and it 

 was better, therefore, to steer clear of innuendoes. 

 During luncheon I told my ideas of the races, in- 

 cluding the big handicap, and at the end he said : 

 " What's good enough for you is good enough for 

 me." He had been on a French racecourse in pre- 

 vious years and only wanted to be reminded of the 

 numerals to assist him in asking for tickets at the 

 guickets, 



" How much are you going to have on ? " he 

 said. 



" Oh, I am a poor man : I shall only have three 

 hundred francs altogether — fifty francs on each race," 

 I said. I was not surprised when he suggested that he 

 would have nine times the amount. So it was agreed 

 that my bets should go on with his. He was to put 

 five hundred on each — four hundred and fifty francs 

 for himself and fifty francs for me. I showed him 

 the ropes before the racing started, and helped him 

 to take the tickets for the first event, and then left 

 him giving him my bit for investment. 



In the first race ours was second, but he was not 

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