OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES 73 



influence upon tlie betting on or against a horse ; 

 but the tout himself, sharp-witted and keen-eyed 

 as he is, sometimes has to do with people quite as 

 clever as himself. Of course, if the tout can afford 

 to give liberal bribes to the stable-boys, and the 

 latter are so dishonest as to reveal the secrets of the 

 stables, the tout's work is pleasant and profitable ; 

 but sometimes misfortunes overtake the gentleman 

 whose business is to procure information. 



' The late Earl of Grosvenor had a horse heavily 

 engaged in the Craven Meeting, and a few days 

 before he was to run a report was circulated that he 

 coughed. But whence the report? Why, a man 

 had been hired by a party to lie all night on the roof 

 of his box, to ascertain the fact which he proclaimed. 

 His authority, however, being doubted, another 

 worthy was procured to perform the same office on 

 the following night, which, coming to the ears of 

 the trainer, was immediately reported to his noble 

 employer. '* Have we no horse that coughs ? " in- 

 quired his lordship. " We have one, my lord," was 

 the reply. " Then," said his lordship, " let him be 

 put in the box over which the fellow is to pass the 

 night, and if he does not catch his death from this 

 cold north-east wind and sleet we shall do very 

 well. Of course the odds became heavy against the 

 horse from the report of this second herald ; and his 

 lordship pocketed a large sum by his horse, who won 

 the race with ease. 



