THE NOBLE ART OF BACKING WINNERS I 73 



of their downfall to one or perhaps more 

 of these three causes, viz. drink, gam- 

 bling, and excessive gallantry. 



Being, as I am, a very-much-married 

 man, with quite a quiverful of noisy 

 boys and girls, and being, moreover, of 

 a retiring and somewhat bashful disposi- 

 tion, I am speaking on this last cause of 

 ruin devoid of any personal experience 

 whatever ; but, like a war-horse who sniffs 

 the battle from afar, I have heard of 

 hosts of poor men who have been in- 

 veigled and half ruined, and had their 

 peace of mind utterly confused, by 

 coquettish, plotting little bundles of fluff, 

 feathers, silken hose, bewitching smiles, 

 and canary-coloured hair. So, in obedi- 

 ence to candour and truth, I feel impelled 

 to put this all down, and I think that 

 *' excessive gallantry " just nicely expresses 

 the weakness of such frail creatures as 



