264 SALE OF LORD GEORGE'S STUD. 



Surplice went in his clothes, as he was one of the 

 laziest and most deceptive goers that in a long 

 experience I had ever seen. I added that, when 

 stripped and roused, Surplice could give Loadstone 

 a lump of weight and beat him over any distance. 

 Upon this Mr Yilliers indulged in a sneering laugh, 

 and ejaculated, " Nonsense ! I know much more 

 about these two horses than you do. Loadstone 

 is the best of the two, and so I always thought." 

 I immediately replied, " If that be your opinion, 

 Mr Villiers, of me and of my judgment, and if these 

 horses were yours, I would not train them for 

 another day. There are others, however, who have 

 an interest in them, whom it is my duty to serve 

 to the best of my ability." " Do you mean to tell 

 me," he rejoined, " that a jockey like Robinson 

 does not know how a horse carries him ? " " He 

 most certainly does not, sir," I answered, "if he 

 believes Loadstone to be better than Surplice." 

 Mr Villiers turned his back upon me with an ex- 

 pression of contempt on his face which I shall 

 never forget. 



The Duke and Duchess of Richmond, and other 

 members of the family, were then at Goodwood 

 House, and Mr Villiers lunched with them. He 

 did not fail to relate, in his own way, what had 

 happened that morning, and endeavoured to pre- 

 judice my dear old master the Duke, and the rest 

 of the family, against me. He stated that had the 

 horses been under the charge of some trainer more 



