AND TIMES OF JOHN OSEORNE 247 



able gentleman commenced straightway such a fusilade 

 against George Frederick that it was soon seen that it 

 was all up with him. Mr. Cartwright looked on, in 

 gloomy silence, the quondam favourite's backers in mute 

 dismay, while the gentlemen bookmakers seemed 

 pleasantly conscious of having performed a virtuous 

 action. Whether they knew something or only did it 

 for a lark and meant to have backed him back the 

 next day whether remorse visited their pillows and 

 uneasy dreams of George Frederick winning in a 

 canter murdered sleep, we cannot say, but when their 

 servants brought them the morning ' S.B.' with the 

 news that George Frederick was scratched, we are 

 warranted in supposing that their feelings were much 

 relieved. For it was true. ' His leg had filled in the 

 night,' and it was Mr. Mannington's opinion that it 

 would ruin the horse to run him. So Mr. Cartwright 

 proceeded to Messrs. Weatherby's office and struck him 

 out, and when the commissioner, whom he had told 

 the previous day that he intended to have a ' thou.' 

 on the horse called for his instructions (the said 

 commissioner having backed the horse for 600 for 

 himself), this was the news that awaited him, and then 

 ' to breakfast with what appetite he may.' It was 

 hardly believed at first, and Custance was amongst the 

 sceptics ; but the real truth soon forced itself upon our 

 unwilling minds. The Derby winner scratched! We 

 had a great idea that he would not win, but we expected 

 at least a run for our money. 



" Of course there were all sorts of things said 

 witty things (more or less), angry things, unwarrant- 

 able things. A time-honoured joke on the owner's 

 name was brought to bear on the situation, and 

 jocose inquiries as to whether Mr. Cartwright 



