THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



Ascot during his sojourn with his uncle in London, the 

 account of which we have detailed. It appeared that he had 

 brought along with him, from that aristocratic meeting, a few 

 aristocratic ideas, and, amongst them, the notion that it was 

 considered very slow indeed to be a looker-on at any species of 

 diversion without having an interest in it; and in this case, 

 having no bond fide interest in the horses — none appearing in 

 his name — he could only concern himself with their perform- 

 ances. His betting-book, then, was produced, and a few 

 speculations entered in it, though altogether to a trifling 

 amount. This act of our hero, however, gave birth to a 

 ludicrous incident or two, which, as a caution to youngsters 

 who venture on the same slippery ground, it may not be amiss 

 to make mention of. 



' Pray, Francis,' said Lady Charlotte to her son, on observing 

 him, from the window of her coach, familiarly addressed, on the 

 second day of the meeting, by a person of doubtful appearance 

 — that is to say, a very ordinary-looking man, in tolerably good 

 clothes — 'who is the friend who came up to you just now, and 

 seemed so glad to see you ? ' 



' Oh,' replied our hero, who did not intend to let his mother 

 into the secret, ' he only wanted to speak to me about one of 

 the horses.' 



' And that strange-looking old man, on a white horse, in a 

 harness-bridle, who followed you a long way down the course, 

 apparently in earnest conversation w^ith you, and carrying a 

 book in his hand ? ' continued Lady Charlotte. 



Here was a poser for the young sportsman. He was above 

 telling an untruth, but was somewhat puzzled for an oft-hand 

 answer to rather a close question. 



' A bothering old Irishman, by the name of O'Hara,' replied 

 Frank, ' who has been trying to persuade me, that Ac could pick 

 out the winner of the next race, and wanted to know whether / 

 thought / could do so, also.' 



' But, Francis,' exclaimed his sister, ' I saw you all but 

 quarrelling with some ill-looking man on the other side of the 

 course ; what could that have been about ? ' 



' WhJ^ I had better tell you the real state of the case at 

 once,' replied Francis. ' The persons you allude to are all 

 of them members of the most rascally community upon earth 

 — known by the appellation of black-legs. They attend all 



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