THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 127 



unfair, and that they would not have a chance to win at 

 them. It was discovered, afterwards, that it was one of 

 the police officers of Bow Street who had acted this 

 friendly part, having seen the young gentlemen come on 

 to the course with Sir John Inkleton, to whom he owed a 

 debt of gratitude, for a kind act done by him, in getting 

 him put on the establishment, through the intercession of 

 one of his relations. 



During the four days of the meeting, Frank Eaby and 

 his host never chanced to meet. When the one came 

 home at night, the other had not returned from his club 

 for he was a member of both Brooks's and White's and 

 when the nephew started for Ascot in the morning, the 

 uncle was asleep in his bed. The first time, however, that 

 they met, which was on the fifth morning, at the breakfast- 

 table, the following conversation occurred : 



" Well, Frank," said Mr. Eaby, " I hope you have enjoyed 

 yourself at Ascot." 



"Very much indeed," was his reply. "Sir John did 

 the thing capitally." 



" Sir John did the thing ! " repeated the uncle. " What 

 do you mean by that ? I thought your object was to see 

 the entire proceedings of an Ascot race meeting, which, 

 I have reason to believe, is the pleasantest and most 

 aristocratic in the world. But you seem to bestow 

 all the credit on Inkleton, who certainly is a very " 



" I only meant to say," interrupted Frank, " that Sir 

 John did the thing in the most coachman-like style, and 

 his turn-out was uncommonly admired on the road. The 

 fine coachmanship, also, which he exhibited, in twisting 

 his horses right and left, and threading the carriages as 

 he did, at the rate of eight or ten miles in the hour, and 

 never touching one of them ! And then the coachman-like 

 manner in which everything was done ; the changing 

 of the horses, and the scientific way in which they were 

 put to the coach." 



" Scientific ! " smiled the uncle ; " ridiculous, to be 

 sure ; but really, Frank, it is somewhat of a melancholy 

 reflection, that, after all the money expended on Inkleton's 

 education, and with really good parts, which he has, he 

 should now pride himself upon nothing so much as being 

 a first-rate coachman. Surely he did not imbibe such 

 ambition from reading the classics." 



" Perhaps not, sir," said our hero, a little petulantly, 



