204 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



addition from his own present resources, enabled him to 

 discharge all obligations that to his friend Dauntley, for 

 the original purchase of the fillies, amongst the number. 

 And there was one redeeming quality in Mr. Trueman, 

 the trainer : he left the world without betraying the 

 secret as to whom these fillies belonged ; and as our hero 

 had not made any admission to the " leg," who made the 

 disclosure of the villainy, it never came to light until he 

 revealed it himself, at a period when it mattered nothing 

 if all the world knew it. 



Horace says, " Life is short, and we should gather its 

 roses while Fate leaves them in our power ; " and he also 

 says (mistakenly, I think), that "the charm of Fame 

 consists in being pointed at, and having it said, This is he ! " 

 Now, I do not think that our hero was under the ban of 

 the last-named infirmity ; but that he was bent upon 

 gathering the roses before the bloom began to fade, his 

 late proceedings have pretty clearly demonstrated. As 

 his friend Dauntley and himself, then, were taking a ride 

 together in the park, on the Thursday after the Epsom 

 meeting, the following conversation took place : 



"I may consider myself very fortunate," said Frank 

 Raby, " in getting out of my racing speculation so well as 

 I have done ; and shall be very cautious how I enter into 

 another. But I have a serious undertaking on my hands, 

 which must be accomplished in the course of the summer." 



" What is that 1 " said Lord Dauntley. 



" I must lay out upwards of 1000 in horseflesh, and I 

 am at present uncertain whence that sum will be forth- 

 coming." 



" My good fellow," said his Lordship, " you need be so 

 no longer. I have that sum at your service any day you 

 may call upon me for it. Nothing is more grateful to me 

 than the act of serving a friend ; indeed, I consider that 

 we are sent here, among other wise purposes, to serve each 

 other when it lies in our power." 



" A thousand thanks, my dear Dauntley," replied Eaby ; 

 " but I must not trespass further on the kindness of my 

 friends, so long as I have other sources to fly to for relief. 

 Goodall tells me he can recommend me to a respectable 

 man in the city, who will advance me a couple of thousand 

 pounds on a post-obit security, and on fair terms. I am 

 to be introduced to him to-morrow." 



"Needs must, when the devil drives," resumed Lord 



