THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



thein. They are aware tliat good conduct is their only passport 

 to my favour.' 



Lord Edinonston. — ' And is it true, Inkleton, that the expenses 

 of a stud of twelve hunters and two hacks, at Melton, amount to 

 £1200 per annum ? ' 



Sir John. — ' As nearly so as possible — I mean the stud only ; 

 that sum extends not beyond the stable-yard ; it has nothing to 

 do with the house expenses of their owner.' 



Goodall. — ' Why, Frank, £2500 a year for horses only ! It will 

 make a big hole in the £5000 a year, eh ? We shall be having 

 another journey together into the city, if the Squire of Amstead 

 lives to be as old as my father is, eh ? ' 



Frank Rahy. — ' Thanks for the hint, Goodall, although it 

 smells a little of the shop. But you forget that all the money 

 my poor uncle left me, is at my disposal, so that if, during 

 my father's life — which I hope may be a long one — I should 

 overshoot the mark, I must trespass a little on the principal. 

 And that won't matter much, for I daresay I shall never 

 marry. Besides, I have given orders for the sale of that little 

 estate in Hertfordshire, which is only lit for a cockney ; and 

 I daresay that, fi'om its pretty situation, and by the help of 

 one of Robins's best puffs, it will fetch £10,000. That would 

 give me another £1000 a year, as I shall sink the principal 

 in an annuity for my life. I don't mean to run in debt ; and 

 Inkleton says, if I do as he does — keep an account of my 

 expenses, and pay ready money for most of the articles con- 

 sumed, I shall never hurt myself. And yon know I have no 

 taste for gambling.' 



Lord Edinonston. — ' Not for a little racing, Frank ? ' 



Frank Rahy. — ' Why, I intend having a shy at that, as we 

 used to say at Eton ; but, having been once caught, I shall be 

 cautious.' 



Hargrave. — ' Better stick to hounds and the coach-box. 



There are such a number of d d rogues on the Turf, that I 



think you will do no good on that ground. Remember what 

 Fairfax told you at Christchurch. There are not many better 

 judges, I believe, than his father is, but he is minus £100,000 

 by the Turf, which is awful to think of, especially when one 

 considers into what wortliless hands a great portion of it is 

 gone.' 



Frank Rahy.—' The legs ! ' 



2S0 



