44 JOHN BAYNTON STARKEY, ESQ. 



any banker. It did not occur to me at the time that 

 the deeds were probably deposited with that excellent 

 personage for the loan of £22,000, representing an 

 actual payment of £12,000 before mentioned. 



Another method by which Mr. Starkey added to 

 his liabilities was the ingenious plan by which he 

 increased his stud — a plan entirely of his own con- 

 ception, dispensing with cash and represented by a 

 deferred payment with his autograph attached. He 

 would generally get this document done through one 

 of his friends, by the simple process of handing it on 

 to three well-known West End money-lending firms. 

 In the end he had to apply to his friend Mr. Padwick 

 for a loan ; when the following colloquy took place : 



' I want £10,000, Padwick.' 



' What for 1 Racing, I suppose V 



' Yes.' 



' You can have it if you will take ray stud. I am 

 tired of it, and have too much business to be able to 

 attend to it.' 



A seemingly moderate price for the little stud was 

 named, and at once agreed to ; and the £10,000 ad- 

 vanced. With this advance added to the sum already 

 due, interest and other accumulations and the horses 

 thrown in, the debt may now be set down at about 

 £50,000. The little stud consisted of Drogheda, a 

 blind stallion, half a dozen brood-mares, a like number 

 of horses in training, including Theodora (after she 

 was useless as a racehorse, of course). The new owner 



