THE NOBLE ART OF BACKING WINNERS l8l 



Who hasn't been welshed, or, having 

 been, will own to it ? Their education 

 is as incomplete as those who have not 

 endeavoured to " find the lady '* with the 

 three-card men. 



I remember I got welshed the very first 

 time I went punting in the small ring, 

 off a very highly respectable and flourish- 

 ing party doing business as the Pickwick 

 Firm. They were dressed in true 

 Pickwickian costume, and shortly after 

 I met the principal in plain clothes, and, 

 saluting me with a most cordial shake 

 of the hand, expressed his regret that 

 I, of all men, had ''tumbled into the 

 net." He stood drinks and cigars, and 

 I am to have my pieces another time ! ! ! 



The night I got done for ;^40o at 

 Newmarket off that bookmaker (who 

 was, of course, nothing so common as 

 a welsher, but all the same couldn't pay) 



