312 HABITS OF LORD GEORGE BENTINCK. 



pin stuck in it. This gold pin (he iiad two or 

 more of them) contained either a big ruby or a 

 pearl. On his head he invariably wore a tall, new, 

 beaver hat. In this costume, including frock-coat 

 and tall hat. Lord George was always dressed when 

 he went round the stables at Goodwood, or pro- 

 ceeded to the exercise -OTounds on foot to see his 



o 



horses gallop. On the race-course he usually wore 

 a green cutaway coat, buckskin breeches, and top- 

 boots. I must revert for a moment to his scarfs, 

 in order to say that, although they cost nearly a 

 pound apiece, nothing would induce him to wear 

 them more than once. They were then put away, 

 and many drawers were full of them when he died. 

 After his death I purchased from Gardner, his 

 valet, the scarf which he had on when his body 

 was found, and half-a-dozen others, which I still 

 keep as mementoes of my honoured master. 



Lord George was never known to suffer any of 

 those whom he employed as commissioners to take 

 the slightest liberty with him. In speaking with 

 them he never laughed, and his look, when serious, 

 was somewhat stern. He never sat down, or per- 

 mitted them to sit down, in his presence, but would 

 stand before the fireplace while talking to them, 

 with the palms of his hands planted just behind 

 his hips. I have heard two of his most trusted 

 commissioners say that, without asking questions 

 or pumping them in any way, Lord George always 

 elicited from them all the racing information that 



