THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



disclosure of the villainy, it never came to lic^ht until he revealed 

 it himself, at a period when it mattered nothing if all the world 

 knew it. 



Horace says, ' Life is short, and we should gather its roses 

 while Fate leaves them in our power ' ; and he also says 

 (mistakenly, I think), that ' the charm of Fame consists in 

 being pointed at, and having it said. This is Jte ! ' Now, I do 

 not think that our hero was under the ban of the last-named 

 infirmity ; but that he was bent upon gathering the roses before 

 the bloom began to fade, his late proceedings have pretty 

 clearly demonstrated. As his friend Daunt! ey and himself, 

 then, were taking a ride together in the park, on the Thursday 

 after the Epsom meeting, the following conversation took 

 place : — 



' I may consider myself very fortunate,' said Frank Raby, 

 ' in getting out of my racing speculation so well as I have 

 done ; and shall be very cautious how I enter into another. 

 But I have a serious undertaking on my hands, which must be 

 accomplished in the course of the summer.' 



' What is that ? ' said Lord Dauntley. 



' I must lay out upwards of £1000 in horseflesh, and I am at 

 present uncertain whence that sum will be forthcoming.' 



' My good fellow,' said his Lordship, ' you need be so no 

 longer. I have that sum at your service any day you may call 

 upon me for it. Nothing is more grateful to me than the act 

 of serving a friend ; indeed, I consider that we are sent here, 

 among other wise purposes, to serve each other when it lies in 

 our power.' 



' A thousand thanks, my dear Dauntley,' replied Rab}^ ; ' but 

 I must not trespass further on the kindness of my friends, 

 so long as I have other sources to fly to for relief. Goodall 

 tells me he can recommend me to a respectable man in the 

 city, who will advance me a couple of thousand pounds on a 

 post-obit security, and on fair terms. I am to be introduced 

 to him to-morrow.' 



' Needs uuist, when the devil drives,' resumed Lord Dauntley ; 

 ' but, as your father cannot bo fifty, you will have to pay a 

 heavy bonus.' 



' Yes, but there is my uncle, also,' replied our hei'o. ' Goodall 

 says the contingency may be made to embrace my expectations 

 from him.' 



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