DEFEATING TREACHERY. 325 



who had been useful and faithful to me as an 

 informant and confidant. I received from his 

 Lordship the accompanying reply by return of 

 post : — 



" Harcourt House, Feb. 6, 1846. 



" John Kent, — Nothing can be more able, 

 clever, and skilful than the manner in which 



you have discovered the misdoings of ; but 



it is absolutely necessary we should keep him on 

 without allowing him to suspect that we have 

 found him out, and then we will make him the 

 most efficient tool that could be for our own pur- 

 poses. is the very man of whom I spoke to 



you some time ago as having always got the cream 



of the betting out of our stable. must not 



on any account be discharged, but the boy who 

 tells you must be ivell reivarded. I therefore 

 authorise you to j)^y ^^^"^^ anything you think 



right. must be kept right in all matters 



of SMALL importance ; but where we mean to do 

 great things, such as with Nereus, Kose of Cash- 

 mere, and Planet, he and B must be j)ut quite 



in the hole. I shall have no scruple in dismissing 



at any moment, when I find it will best 



answer my purpose to do so. Do you think 



stands quite clear about the watch ? It seems an 

 odd thinof to do' — to send a watch to York to be 

 repaired ! Is it quite certain the watch was not a 

 present and a bribe from some betting man at York ? 

 — I am, your obedient servant, G. Bentinck. 



