THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



little weight to his general remarks and opinions. The fact 

 was, his uncle had never been at Melton. In the next, he 

 observed a thoughti'ulness about hini that was not, he was 

 certain, natural, and he now and then appeared to be almost 

 absorbed in thought. In fact, Mr. Beaumont Raby began to 

 doubt whether his favourite nephew was happy, and even put 

 the question to him, to endeavour to satisfy his mind on the 

 subject. The answer was, of course, in the affirmative. 



That Frank Raby was, at this time, quite happy, no one 

 will readily believe, and the cause of his not being so will as 

 readily present itself. He had embarked in a speculation, the 

 result of which was not only in itself uncertain, but it was 

 also apparent to him that he had embarked in it rashly, and 

 without the means of cai-rying it through with any satisfaction 

 to himself. He had already put himself under an obligation 

 to a friend, and that a newly-accjuired one, for the money his 

 fillies had cost, and he was further involved with him in the 

 odds he had taken for him at Tattersall's. In short, for the 

 first time in his life, he found himself in trouble, in conse- 

 quence of exceeding his means. But this was not the utmost 

 extent of it. He had subjected himself, also for the first time, 

 to a severe self-reproach, for acting an underhand part in the 

 possession of his racing fillies — in fact, for having done what 

 he feared to be known to all the world, which he felt was quite 

 repugnant to his naturally ingenuous disposition. 



Within a week of the meeting, matters stood thus : Rouge 

 was third favourite for the Oaks, the odds being only 8 to 1 

 against her, whereas, with respect to Euphrosyne, they remained 

 at 25. Nevertheless, in consequence of her being in the same 

 stable with Rouge, said to be such a flyer, added to her being 

 known to be a superior goer, a good deal of mone^^ had been 

 laid out on her at the above-named quotation, but not by the 

 principal bettors, further than to make up their ])ooks. As 

 to her owner, although he had taken the odds — at least his 

 noble friend had done so for him — to another hundred pounds, 

 on the Monday before the race, when they were only 12 to 1, 

 he had not one shilling on Euphrosyne, nor had any of his 

 friends who were in the secret, and they only consisted of 

 three ; namely. Lord Dauntley, Hargrave, and Goodall, his 

 old Christchui-ch chums, who had laid out some money on 

 Rouge. 



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