AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 371 



apart from his phenomenal skill as a horseman, added 

 to the fact that by force of circumstances he was in 

 " the know " of many Turf secrets of importance, the 

 bulk of his fortune was amassed by his success as a 

 gambler. That idea is completely exploded by Archer's 

 confession above mentioned to his journalistic friend; 

 nor was there ever a more persuasive sermon preached 

 against the madness of people, especially those outside 

 of the inner circle, trying to gain a competency by 

 backing horses. If Archer failed in his betting trans- 

 actions, who could succeed ? Yet the fact remains that 

 a few of the coterie who clung to the great jockey 

 amassed wealth by following his mounts. But these 

 were the men who never lost their judgment or cool 

 calculation in the heat of their gambling passion. 



Returning from Kempton Park champion coursing 

 meeting the year that the late Mr. S. H. Hyde's deaf 

 greyhound, Ballangeich, won the prize, Archer was 

 travelling to town along with three notable brothers 

 of the pigskin. One of his companions, who shall be 

 nameless, was wearing a breast-pin of peculiar shape. 

 " I have often wondered," inquired " The Tinman," 

 addressing the jockey, " what that pin is you wear 

 always in your scarf." " Oh, don't you know that's a 

 tooth of old - - (naming the horse), when I rode him 

 second in the Derby." " Is that so ? " queried Archer. 

 " By heavens ! you must have been holding him bloom- 

 ing hard then when you pulled a tooth out of his 

 head." 



At one time it was accepted as fact that Archer 

 refused an offer of marriage from no less a personage 

 than the late Duchess of Montrose, who raced under the 

 nom de cours of " Mr. Manton." Her Grace was dis- 

 tinguished for marked strength of will and devotion to 



