334 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



money in the contest. To use your own words, then, 

 touching racing, ' reflect on this. 1 Suppose, when we come 

 to the post, it should be 6 to 9 on the sugar-baker, and I 

 hear he is not only very rich, but a very sharp fellow, and 

 can make use of his tongue^ All things considered, I had, 

 perhaps, better await the answer to this letter before I set 

 forward to Riply. 



"Now then for a word on another subject. You need 

 not longer hesitate as to your offer of congratulation on 

 my success at Bibury. It would have been greater, had I 

 used my own judgment in opposition to that of my trainer, 

 and I should have won the great prize of the meeting, in 

 the room of the Prince of Wales. To show you, however, 

 that I am not vain of my triumph over either horse or 

 man, I have made my bow to the turf, leaving it to those 

 who are better fitted for it than I am in other words, to 

 those to whose tastes it is more congenial than I have 

 found it to be to mine. There is too much mystery in it 

 to please me ; added to a sort of mutual suspicion amongst 

 its votaries, that all are rogues together. That such is 

 not the case we are well assured, by the numbers of 

 honourable men who are amongst them ; but, to speak the 

 truth at once, I think, compared with fox-hunting, it is a 

 very low pursuit. 



"By the way, the mention of the Prince reminds me 

 that his Royal Highness did me the honour to have me 

 introduced to him ; passed some compliments on my 

 horse and horsemanship, and in his usual I believe 

 inimitable elegantly familiar style, inquired kindly 

 after my mother, reminding me that they had danced a 

 minuet together in their younger days. Glad to hear you 

 are well, and remain Your very affectionate son, 



"FRANCIS RABY 

 " BOND STREET, June 27, 1809." (" M ' R in abeyance). 



The next day but two having brought the answer from 

 Mr. Raby, to the effect that he would find the needful for 

 the contest, should such take place, adding that he was 

 not to be frightened out of his object by a sugar-baker, 

 wealthy as he might be, and how " sweetly soever he might 

 discourse," Frank Raby ordered four post-horses to his 

 travelling carriage the next morning, and arrived at 

 Riply the same night. On the morrow he called on Sir 



