OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES 77 



of the odds at the betting-room and the walking- 

 stick affair, besides a current rumour that Mr. Petre 

 had got rid of his betting-book, with a bonus, to 

 Mr. Wyville ; and at length he grew sullen and ill- 

 tempered. As the time for the decision of the great 

 event drew near he walked to the ground with his 

 saddle at his back and his whip in his hand, in no 

 ver}^ enviable frame of mind. He went to scale in 

 due course ; and immediately afterwards, on inquir- 

 ing if any one had seen Mr. Petre, or his groom, or 

 his horse, he was answered in the negative. He 

 then proceeded to the rubbing- house, and made the 

 same inquiries there. "Has any one seen Mr. 

 Petre ? " " No," was the reply. " Or his groom ? " 

 "No." "Or Theodore?" "No; they say he is 

 not coming. 'Tis a hundred guineas to a walking- 

 stick against him !" Jackson's teeth met in utter 

 mortification. He then proceeded to the Town 

 Field, where several of the St. Leger horses were 

 being walked about. At length he discovered a 

 horse at the far side of the field, near the hedge, 

 led by a little stable-boy alone. Jackson thought it 

 must be his horse Theodore. He trudged across the 

 lands, and, approaching the boy, said to him, " Is 

 that Mr. Petre's horse, my boy ? " " Yes, sir," was 

 the answer. " Bring him here," said the veteran, 

 " and strip him directly," — an operation which, with 

 some assistance, was speedily accomplished. In the 

 meanwhile Jackson proceeded to strip himself to 



