JOHN DAY'S RETIREMENT 31 



attribute largely the advancement that came to 

 me within the next few years. 



Mr. Padwick had a house at Findon, which 

 was placed in charge of a caretaker and his wife. 

 I had rooms there, and in return for attendance 

 I paid for the schooling of the caretaker's little 

 boy. Opposite the house there was a garden 

 which I rented, and in it I worked hard and 

 joyously in what little spare time I had. Having 

 no use for most of the fruit and vegetables I 

 grew, I used to distribute the " crops " among 

 the villagers. 



Many hard things were said about Mr. Pad- 

 wick. Because he was a money-lender as well 

 as a solicitor, there were people always ready to 

 fling abuse at him. He was, I should say, as 

 much sinned against as sinning. I always re- 

 garded him as a good sportsman ; he was 

 certainly a nice man to deal with. He lived at 

 Horsham, and had a town house at No. 2 Hill 

 Street. His racing was conducted on strict 

 business lines, and he expected me to be able 

 to show him, by my books, exactly how he stood. 



We have now got to 1855. While spending 

 a holiday at Rugeley that year I was brought 

 for a moment in contact with the crime for which 

 Palmer, the poisoner, was executed. Of a sport- 

 ing turn of mind, he had for many years horses 

 in training with Saunders at Hednesford, and 

 some of his animals were good enough to win 



