286 MEMORIES OF MEN AND HORSES 



them from doing it. Galeazzo was actually successful as 

 understudy to St Frusquin for the Newmarket Stakes, 

 and left his principal fresh for the Derby. 



Mr Leopold de Rothschild was the most unselfish of 

 men, and one who always wished to do good to others ; 

 but he was most careful not to be taken in by bogus 

 claims. 



I often had a message from him inquiring what I 

 knew about some impecunious person who had gone to 

 him for assistance, and if I was able to say that the case 

 was worthy of assistance the assistance always came. 



I cannot explain the position better than this that 

 once there was a couple past middle age who or at 

 least he had occupied a big position under the Marquis 

 of Hastings, of unfortunate renown. 



They were beat to the world financially, and the lady 

 came to me at the December sales one year, asking me 

 if I could get up a subscription for them without mention- 

 ing their names. This, of course, was a dreadful job to 

 undertake, and I told her there were only two men in the 

 world whom I could ask to subscribe money on such 

 terms. I did not tell her who they were, but I wrote 

 to them both, and they were Sir Tatton Sykes and Mr 

 Leopold de Rothschild. The former sent me ^50 and 

 Mr Leopold sent ^25, so that these people had ^75 as 

 a Christmas present ; but I always felt unhappy at 

 having done this thing, even though it was with people 

 who could not possibly suspect me. The infinite good- 

 ness of Mr Leopold de Rothschild was demonstrated 

 later on when the lady to whom I had given the names 

 of their secret benefactors went and got another 10 

 out of him direct. 



He communicated with me at once, and I replied that 



