THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER 77 



2nd May 1892. 



FACTS ABOUT ORME 



AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN PORTER 



WAS THE HORSE REALLY POISONED? 



" There is nothing that makes a man suspect much more than to know 

 little, and, therefore, men should remedy suspicion by procuring to know 

 more and not to keep their suspicions to smother." BACON. 



" HE does not look so bad after all, Mr Porter." 



" No, he's picking up nicely now." 



" I suppose there is no doubt he really was poisoned?" 



" I shouldn't like to say that ; and I think the Duke 

 has formed his conclusions too hastily. At best or 

 worst, it was merely a matter of suspicion, and Mr 

 Williams, who has attended the horse all through, 

 would not, I am sure, say more, nor would Loeffler." 



This was rather a surprising statement to come from 

 John Porter on Saturday last, when all the papers were 

 full of the poisoning of Orme and the Duke of West- 

 minster's communications on the subject ; so I paused 

 to think it over before asking another question. 



I need hardly say that the conversation referred to 

 took place at Park House, Kingsclere, where, by the 

 courtesy of the Duke of Westminster and John Porter, 

 I was enabled to present myself on Saturday morning. 



" But, Mr Porter, he nearly died on Sunday, did he 

 not?" 



Something like a smile passed over the great trainer's 

 face as he replied : " Died! Not a bit of it. He was 

 worth many dead ones. He had to have the blisters 

 which formed under his tongue lanced on that day, and 

 you know that a little blood in a bucket of water makes 

 a nasty show. Well, some people when they saw this 



