238 SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIELD. 



confident, I believe," I remark, for of his owner's belief 

 in his powers Leonard had informed me. 



" Say was confident last week, and j'-oii'll be near the 

 mark. There are two excellent reasons why Harford 

 won't beat me. In the first place, his horse couldn't if 

 he wanted him to ; and, in the second place, he doesn't. 

 He will start Muffin Boy to make running for Fair 

 Rosamond, and declare to win with her. You may 

 depend upon it, Charlie, my boy," Russford goes on, 

 seeing that I look disturbed ; " they were tried on 

 Saturday, and the mare's far the best at the weights, 

 though she isn't good enough to beat the King, I fancy. 

 Aren't you going to stay and dine r " he asks, as I rise 

 abruptly. 



" In about half an hour," I reply, and instructing the 

 servants to tell Mr. Leonard I particularly want to see 

 him if he calls, jump into a hansom and speed away 

 towards Victoria Street, where he has a flat. 



" j\Ir. Leonard in ? " I ask, when his man appears. 

 " No, sir. Just gone to Paris. Started a few minutes 

 ago — you must almost have passed him as you come, 

 sir, if that was from Charing Cross way. Master was 

 inquiring whether you had called, sir," the man added. 



I looked at my w^atch. Just time to catch him before 

 the mail goes if the man drives quickly, so into the 

 hansom I plunge, and off we go to Charing Cross. But 

 the cabby is more willing than skilful, and affords a new 

 proof of the accuracy of the proverb, " More haste, less 

 speed." In whipping round a corner the wheel catches 



