316 HABITS OF LORD GEORGE BENTINCK. 



was so late, and so many hours had elapsed since I 

 had breakfasted. " So long as you have had what 

 you wished, I am satisfied," he rejoined. 



As a vast number of stakes closed that day at 

 midnight, the forfeits for which would amount to 

 thousands of pounds, I reminded his Lordship of 

 the time, as he did not appear to consider it. A 

 cab was at once ordered, and we arrived at 

 Weatherby's office about 11.40 p.m. Mr Wea- 

 therby was afraid that something serious had 

 occurred to prevent his Lordship naming for the 

 various stakes to which he was a subscriber. " I 

 am in plenty of time ; Kent has all the nomina- 

 tions made out," observed his Lordship, looking 

 over the various stakes to see how they had filled, 

 until two o'clock, when he drove to Harcourt 

 House, and there kept me talking over various 

 matters till nearly five. Then he rang for his 

 servant to order some breakfast at six o'clock for 

 me, as he wished me to see some yearlings Mr 

 Tattersall had for sale at Willesden before I re- 

 turned home by the coach from Piccadilly at 

 8.45 A.M. His Lordship never made any allowance 

 for fatigue, either in himself or in others. The 

 exertion and labour he underwent were prodigious, 

 and the strain imposed upon his mind must, in- 

 deed, have been great, as it was incessantly at 

 work both night and day. After being upon a 

 race-course all day, he would invariably return to 

 London by a late train, and often desired me to 



