SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



" Now, Admiral, you really don't seriously expect 

 that that old fox would tell me anything ? " 



" Well, he might. Just ask him." 



I walked over to the Warwick Arms, and found 

 the party I expected. After general greetings I 

 turned to Swindell with, " Fred, I've a message for 

 you from the Admiral. He asked me to ask you 

 what sort of a horse the Truth gelding is. I told 

 him he really couldn't expect an old fox like you to 

 tell me anything. Still, I've carried out his wishes. 

 Is there any answer, Fred ? At present he has you 

 down at all sorts of weights — from 7 st. 4 lb. to 

 5 St. 12 lb." 



"Tell him," said Swindell, "that if he's got 6 st. 



on him he may scratch the d d horse. And 



further, tell him he can have the brute for a hundred." 



" Say two hundred, Fred," remarked Mr. Lambert. 

 "The old boy might take you at your word, and 

 give a hundred." 



" Well, two hundred, Hodge. And, mind, tell him 

 what I say I mean. If he puts 6 st. on him he can 

 scratch the beast." 



On my return to Leamington I saw the Admiral, 

 and delivered the message. 



" Thanks," he said. " I'll put him down 5 st. 12 lb. 

 I'll do it now." And he took up the pen and jotted 

 down the burden. 



227 



