FROM HOWL FOR 'RECIPROCITY' TO PRESENT DAY 303 



Milton ' (understood to be tlie assumed name of M. de 

 Saint-Albin, proprietor and editor of ' Le Sport'), gave 

 the following lively sketch of Count de Lagrange : — 



As he walks leaning on the arm of one of his nephews, and 

 rounding his hips after the manner of waltzers, you would say 

 that he was about to turn to the orchestra and call out, ' Now, 

 M. Waldteufel, when you please ! ' The Count runs his horses 

 without regard for the public, who ' know ' no more than his 

 own partners. He is determined to make it quite clear that a 

 man does not keep two hundred horses in training simply to 

 amuse the gallery. The Lagrange stable is a conjurer's box. 

 Most frequently the horse that carries the first colours does not 

 carry the money. The followers of the stable experience the 

 most cruel ' sells ; ' the Count's partners tear their hair. But 

 the Count himself remains impassible and preserves his Mephisto- 

 phelian smile. The partner who has just burnt his fingers by 

 backing the beaten horse of the stable dares not even complain. 

 The Count would reply, ' Lost, have you, my dear fellow ? 

 Have you lost much ? I'm sorry you didn't lose more. That 

 will teach you to try and win money all by yourself, ujUhoid 

 j'apas permission.' A little story will give an idea of the Count's 

 discreetness and of the frequently clever way in which he escapes 

 the reproaches of his friends when he omits — more or less in- 

 tentionally — to make them sharers in his good things. Durin<>- 

 the Middle Park Plate week (when Chamant won) he had taken 

 away with him for a visit at Phantom Cottage a rich and 

 amiable sportsman with whom he was on very intimate terms. 

 He had specially invited him to take him behind the scenes of 

 a big stable and initiate him into all the mysteries of the Turf. 

 One evening after an excellent dinner they remained chatting 

 — with their feet on the fender — to a late hour ; but the name 

 of Chamant was never mentioiied. Next day the horse won the 

 Middle Park Plate in wonderfully easy style. ' But I rather 

 think,' said the Count in reply to his friend's congratulations, 

 ' I told you to back him ? ' ' No,' replied the friend, ' but, as I 

 am pretty free with my money, I put a hundred pounds on him 

 — on the off chance — at 20 to 1 .' ' Then you win two thousand ! ' 

 rejoined the Count, somewhat astonished. ' Two thousand 

 pounds ? ' ' I'm quite delighted ; but, you know, whenever you 



