SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



that Mr. Gladstone was travelling incognito. At 

 first the crowd was incredulous, but soon the people 

 flocked round my carriage, and misled, perhaps, by 

 the dim light of the autumn eve, thought I was 

 Gladstone. The station was quickly in a ferment, 

 and " Speech! Speech! " startled the porters at their 

 work. " Speak ! " said Mr. Gale, as the train was on 

 the move. " Show yourself." So I thrust my head 

 from the window with, " Thank you, gentlemen ! So- 

 and-so will win the Cesare witch ! " 



"Victor, Victorious, Vestminster, Verdant, Vex, 

 Vixen, Valentine, Veni, Vidi, Vici, — why so many 

 ' V's,' Hodgman ? Were you a great admirer of 

 Sam Weller, that you so affected the ' V's ' ? ' 

 asked a friend. 



" Sam Weller be bothered ! " I answered. " I 

 never renamed a horse, but I selected ' V's ' because 

 I should know where to pick upon my horses in the 

 Index to the Calendar when I wished to refresh my 

 memory with their form." That is the simple 

 explanation of what many may consider an eccen- 

 tricity. 



My tale is spun. Readers, fare ye well ! 



289 



