82 MEMORIES OF MEN AND HORSES 



existed ; and I am sure that John Porter would be 

 gratified, for he seems grieved to the heart at having 

 to be suspicious, and those who have anything to do 

 with Orme must naturally feel acutely the unpleasant 

 nature of their position. 



Personally I cannot bring myself to believe that in 

 these days, when men are presumably more sensible 

 and civilised than they used to be, anyone would embark 

 on such a dastardly and dangerous course as the absolute 

 poisoning of a Derby horse. That favourites may be 

 drugged at times is unfortunately too true, but that is 

 a very different matter. 



If it be indeed a fact that someone or some number of 

 persons did in fact procure the administration of poison 

 to Orme, then indeed we may say with Shakespeare : 



" . . . Gold ; worse poison to men's souls, 

 Doing more murders in this loathsome world 

 Than these poor compounds that thou may'st not sell." 



But for the credit of human nature it is to be hoped 

 that the Duke of Westminster, himself ill and unable 

 to see the horse, has exaggerated fears and suspicions 

 until they took the form of facts in his mind. It is not 

 for me to pronounce definitely one way or the other. 

 My business is to set down as well as I can what John 

 Porter's view of the matter is, and this I have done. 

 Incidentally, however, I will once more repeat that I 

 am inclined to believe Orme was never poisoned at all. 



Now I must add here that while John Porter was 

 talking openly and in all good faith as above I asked 

 him if it would not cause some friction if I should publish 

 such an absolute contradiction of what the Duke had 



