THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 323 



race of the day. Your early answer will oblige, yours 

 faithfully, &c., 



" A. PORTMORE. 

 "To FRANCIS RABT, Esq." 



" Well," exclaimed Sir John Inkleton, " Portmore acts, 

 as he always acts, the part of an honourable man." 



" The three pounds may give you the race," exclaimed 

 Hargrave ; " but don't forget the pull." 



" I will back you for a pound or two," said Goodall, 

 "although I know so little of racing as to be almost 

 incredulous as to three pounds being an advantage worth 

 speaking about in such a weight as you propose to carry." 



" My good fellow," said Fairfax, who entered the room 

 at that moment, " the key of the stable-door once lost the 

 trial between two of the first race-horses of the day." 



" An old woman's story," exclaimed our hero ; " but 

 (pulling the bell hastily at the moment) I'll have none of 

 his three pounds. I'll run the match at evens, and lay 

 another 500 I win it." 



On the waiter appearing with some letter-paper, and 

 being ordered to send immediately for Lilly, the following 

 answer was penned, and as instantly despatched to Mr. 

 Portmore : 



" DEAR SIR, I feel, as I ought to feel, the handsome 

 conditions on which you offer to accept my challenge to 

 run Antonio against Nameless, on Thursday, same weight, 

 &c. &c., as in the Welter stakes ; but so satisfied am I 

 that, as far as concerned my horse, it was yesterday, from 

 end to end, a false run race, that I am unwilling to alter 

 the terms proposed by me. Should I be beaten, myself 

 alone will be to blame ; and it may act as a salutary 

 lesson to me through life, not to persist in my own opinion 

 contrary to that of those who are more experienced than 

 myself. I herewith send you the articles of the match, 

 signed on my part, and on your signature being attached, 

 my horse shall be at the post on the day, and at the time 

 stated in your letter. Believe me, dear Sir, faithfully 

 and obliged, 



" FRANCIS KABY. 



"To the HON. A. PORTMORE," &c. &c. 



Within another half-hour, the parties met in the street, 

 and our hero was informed by his antagonist that the 



