246 SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIELD. 



reservation that the next three favourites might either 

 of them win if anything happened to him, and that it 

 would be well to keep some three or four others on the 

 safe side, while danger might be apprehended from a 

 couple of outsiders — of which Lluffin Boy was not one. 

 He was thrown over by all except one prophet, who 

 declared that he was well in, and if he only retained 

 his spring form might, despite the vicissitudes of the 

 market, effect a surprise. 



Horchester Towers, it need hardly be said, is situated 

 some five miles from the railway. We reached the 

 station about ten minutes late, but a groom in a 

 dog-cart was luckily in waiting, come over to fetch a 

 parcel, so I was spared an hour's journey in a damp and 

 unpleasant fly. Mr. Leonard had arrived the night 

 before, I learned from the groom, so at last my quarry 

 seemed run to earth. 



" Was Mr. Leonard in ? " I inquired, on reaching the 

 door. 



"No, he was not. Had gone out with the gentlemen. 

 Would I see my lord ? " was the reply. 



I would, and did. 



"Yes. Herbert arrived last night. He has kindly 

 been to Nice to look after a villa for us. His aunt 

 wished him to choose the place himself, as agents give 

 singularly flattering accounts of houses they wish to 

 dispose of The hounds meet to-day for the first time, 

 you know — you may have seen — and he rode over to see 

 them thrown off, at any rate," Lord Horchester answers. 



