56 TALES OF THE TURF AND THE CHASE. 



not be disputed, " Don John, and Ian will be second." " But 

 how about Cobham ?" (the first favourite) I asked. " Cobham," 

 he answered, with the same matter-of-fact manner, as though 

 there could be no possible doubt on the subject, " Cobham will 

 break down at the end of the white rails opposite the Intake 

 Farm." "What makes you state that so positively?" I inquired. 

 " For these very good reasons," he replied : " Cobham is bad in 

 his forelegs. He has not had a real rattling gallop for many a 

 day. Besides, he is as fat as a bullock. Now, with his bad 

 forelegs, his weight of flesh, and 8st. 7lb. (that was before the 

 8st. lolb. days) on his back, depend upon it he'll never reach 

 home." " And what makes you think that Don John is so cer- 

 tain to win ?" " Because I've watched him closely, and I know 

 there's never a horse in Doncaster can go with him. You may 

 put that down as gospel truth." I was struck by the calm 

 assurance with which the man spoke, and I went and backed 

 Don John for as much money as I could put on. My prophet 

 was right. Don John did win, and Cobham sure enough did 

 break down, though it was not at the end of the white rails, but 

 nearer home. I won 700/., and determined to give my prophet 

 a handsome honorarium for his excellent tip. But I could find 

 him nowhere. He had mysteriously disappeared, and I did not set 

 eyes upon him again for many months. When I did see him, it 

 was in the last place in the world I should have expected to 

 encounter him. I was crossing Waterloo Bridge on the Friday 

 or Saturday before the Derby of 1839 — I forget the exact day — 

 when I ran right up against him. I recognised him at once, and 

 told him who I was, adding, that I had to thank him for pocket- 

 ing 700/. over the Leger. As he had no urgent business on 

 hand, I asked him to come with me to a quiet tavern, and have 

 some dinner. He consented. When we arrived at the tavern, 

 and were seated, I told him of my intention to remunerate him 

 for his tip, and begged him to accept a 2o/.-note. This he reso- 

 lutely refused for some time to do, and it was only by insisting 

 on it that I forced him at last to take the money.' 



' Yes, I see you are smiling ; you want to know where a tout 

 is that would refuse 20/. Nevertheless what I tell you is per- 

 fectly true.' 



' He told me his story while we were discussing a bottle of 

 wine after dinner ; and a very melancholy story it was. I won't, 

 however, trouble you with it now. I will only say that he was 

 a man of good family, and had been educated at Cambridge, but 



