200 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



that Rouge is the second best two-year-old he ever had 

 in his stable. I am just come from TattersalPs, and find 

 they are both in the betting ; Rouge at only 12 to 1 

 Euphrosyne at 25. You should employ some one to lay 

 out a hundred for you, chiefly on Rouge, from what 

 Trueman says. He has taken the odds himself to 50. 

 Make use of me, if you like, as I mean to lay out some 

 money on Rouge a hundred at least to-morrow. As 

 they tell me the may-fly is gone, I suppose we shall soon 

 meet in the little village. I shall therefore only add that 

 I remain, Dear Frank, truly yours, 



" DAUNTLEY. 

 " F. EABT, Esq." 



" HONOURED SIR, I writes to tell you how your fillies 

 is, as it is my duty so to do. I thinks we shall be nigh 

 hand with Rouge, if we doesn't win the Oaks. I have 

 tried her with a good four-year-old at eight pounds, and 

 they ran head to head. Euphrosyne is well, and has good 

 speed, but I doubt she will not stay. 1 I have taken the 

 odds (12 to 1) to 50 about Rouge, and I would advise 

 you to do the same, but don't meddle with the other yet. 

 The odds will be higher against her after a bit, when 

 people sees she hasn't many friends. Sir, your obedient 

 servant, 



" W. TRUEMAN. 



"To FRANCIS RABY, Esq." 



The consequence of these letters was, one from our hero 

 to his friend Dauntley, requesting him to take the odds to 

 a hundred pounds on Rouge,*but, in the classical language 

 of Mr. Trueman, not to meddle with Euphrosyne, and the 

 commission was executed, on the following Monday, by 

 his Lordship. 



A fortnight before the Derby our hero arrived in 

 London, and, as usual, took up his residence with his 

 uncle, whose kindness towards him was unabated. He 

 could not, however, help remarking that, although, from 

 the length of time since he had last seen him, it was, to a 

 certain extent, to be looked for, there was a wide differ- 

 ence in the character and deportment of his favourite 

 nephew, and in one or two respects not exactly to be 



1 Angliceis a jade and will die away in a struggle at the last. 



