132 MEMORIES OF MEN AND HORSES 



another look at her, stripped in her box, when we got 

 home, and was even more impressed than on the pre- 

 vious afternoon. She is a charming-tempered filly 

 and takes life as it comes with perfect equanimity. 

 Mr Sievier brought her a handful of green food, and 

 as she took it from him, I thought what a picture, and 

 what an eventful history the two of them would make. 

 As a matter of fact, they are already represented in the 

 biograph at the Palace Theatre, and thereby hangs 

 a tale. Visitors to the Palace will have noticed that 

 both Sceptre and her owner, as portrayed there, seem 

 to be in a very jumpy condition, and Mr Sievier also 

 appears to be addressing forcible remarks to someone. 

 This is not due to any defect in the photographs or 

 apparatus. As a matter of fact, when he was persuaded 

 to lead the filly out to be photographed he was unaware 

 that the camera which operates the films in rapid suc- 

 cession is anything but silent in fact it emits a noise 

 something like a machine gun, and this, of course, 

 startled Sceptre, while as for Mr Sievier, he expressed 

 his displeasure in fairly adequate terms which, had they 

 been retained by a phonograph, would have imparted a 

 still more vivid interest to the picture. . . . Shortly 

 before twelve we drove to Wilton station, about nine 

 miles from Elston House, where I had spent my 

 brief but very instructive and pleasant visit. I should 

 mention before closing that the praying gentleman has 

 written to say that he will pray for the success of Sceptre, 

 but he wants to be put on 500 to nothing. 



From the above extract it is, of course, clear that 

 unbounded confidence was reposed in Sceptre for the 

 Derby, but the serious stoppage in her work after 



