THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



On the waiter appearing with .some lettei -paper, and being 

 ordered to send immediately for Lilly, the following answer was 

 penned, and as instantly dispatched to Mr. Portmore : — 



' Dear Sir, — 



' I feel, as I ought to feel, the handsome conditions on 

 which you offer to accept my challenge to run Antonio against 

 Nameless, on Thursday, same weight, etc., etc., as in the 

 Welter stakes : but so satisfied am I that, as far as concerned 

 my horse, it was yesterday, from end to end, a false run race, 

 that I am unwilling to alter the terms proposed by me. 

 Should I be beaten, myself alone will be to blame ; and it 

 may act as a salutary lesson to nie through life, not to persist 

 in my own opinion contrary to that of those who are more 

 experienced than myself. I herewith send you the articles of 

 the match, signed on my part, and on your signature being 

 attached, my horse shall be at the post on the day, and at the 

 time stated in your letter, 



' Believe me, dear Sir, 

 ', ' Faithfully and obliged, 



' Francis Raby. 



'To the Hon. A. Portmore, etc., etc' 



Within another half-hour, the parties met in the street, and 

 our hero was informed by his antagonist that the articles of the 

 match were signed, and already in the hands of the steward ; 

 and in ten minutes more, the following conversation took place 

 between the owner of Nameless and his trainer : — 



' Well, sir,' said Mr. Lilly, ' I find you have made your match, 

 and I wish we may pull through. I find you will not have the 

 three pounds. I think, sir, you should have taken it. Never 

 throw away a chance in racing. Three pounds at such high 

 weight, to be sure, is not much to get, but it is something. 

 They are betting six to four against us in the town, and I 

 daresay it will be seven.' 



' So much the better,' replied Raby, ' as I may be able to 

 hedge some of my money, if I alter my opinion of the event 

 by to-morrow — not that I think it likely I shall do so. But 

 what is it, Lilly, that you consider your duty to tell me, respect- 

 ing the match '( ' 



' Why, sir,' replied Lilly, ' if I understand 3^ou right, you 

 are going to perform almost the most difficult act a jockey is 



32S 



