178 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



the indignant captain by the way he had behaved to me 

 and to others. 



As to gambling, "the Boys" played Van John, ard 

 fairly won of each other many a fiver perhaps, but 

 knowing that I discountenanced anything like a regular 

 gambling-table, they never ventured to introduce those 

 worthies who make it a practice to fleece all with whom 

 they come in contact. On one occasion, however, after 

 the banquet on the first day of the meeting, the entries 

 for the " Open Handicap" were handed in, and I myself 

 and two competent assistants were selected as handi- 

 cappers, and went up-stairs to a private room to complete 

 our work. On opening the door a well-dressed man in 

 bland terms begged of us to come in and join the partw 

 The room was already occupied, and our indignation was 

 aroused by seeing a regular table set out for play, and, at 

 the head of it, some well-known "hell-keepers" from 

 London. The table was surrounded by a choice party of 

 the guests who had been dining with us, prominent among 

 them a duke and viscount. The champagne was flowing 

 freely, the party much excited and in full play at rouge 

 et noir or roulette, baccarat b^ing then unknown. I told 

 them at once that if they did not immediately break 

 up the table and disperse, I would fetch the police and 

 have them all taken into custody ; and I threatened the 

 proprietor of the hotel that I would have him and his 

 house indicted if the gambling was not instantly put a 

 stop to. The duke and his friends begged of me and 

 my brother handicappers to withdraw, and promised they 

 would stop the play; but we on our side were inexorable 

 and stayed in the room until the table was removed, and 



