SIR CHARLES DODWORTH'S 500 219 



so it happened that I repaired with him to Cremorne 

 and, being both of us young and happy, we went in for all 

 the " fun of the fair " if it may be so styled. We danced 

 round the monster platform and engaged in the many 

 other frivolities, ending up by winning all sorts of absurd 

 prizes at the various shooting and other skill contests. 

 These prizes we carried off in triumph and a hansom to 

 my rooms. It was then getting on to three A.M., and there 

 was a strong wind blowing. 



My friend, after taking a whisky and soda, suddenly 

 produced a sheaf of Bank of England notes from a pocket 

 of his greatcoat, and said : " Here is 500. I want you 

 to take it arid bet with it for me at Epsom." 



Such a proposal reduced me to immediate gravity, and 

 I told him not to be a fool or words to that effect. 



On that he rushed to the window, opened it wide and, 

 holding the notes far outside it, cried : 



" Look here, if you won't do it, I swear I'll throw them 

 out into the street ! " 



The wind was howling, and I knew that in his then frame 

 of mind he would do what he said unless I humoured his 

 whim, so I said : " All right, give me the notes." 



He handed them over, and I deposited them safely 

 in my bedroom. Shortly afterwards he departed, and I 

 went to bed and slept. 



Next morning I wondered if the incident had been 

 an unpleasant dream, but no, there were the bank-notes 

 when I went to look for them : and the first instinct was 

 to act like the unprofitable servant and bury them until 

 after Epsom so as to return them intact : but, after all, 

 the unprofitable servant got into trouble for being an 

 anti-gambler, and, being young and hopeful, I decided 

 to let Sir Charles have a run for his money. 



Then came the question what to do with it. I was 

 going to have my own trifle on Claremont for the Derby 

 and Lady Love for the Oaks. Should I do the same for 

 him ? 



At first thought of this, I became conscious that my own 



