I20 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



library, which I ought to have received at Water- 

 loo. The wrapping bore my name in large 

 letters, and I displayed it in such a way that my 

 fellow-traveller could see who I was. Furtively 

 watching him, I secretly enjoyed his discomfiture 

 when he realised he had made a jaux -pas. The 

 instant the train drew up at Farnborough he bolted 

 from the compartment. I was still smiling over 

 the incident when he returned, and, addressing 

 me through the open door, exclaimed: "Don't 

 you think I am the biggest fool you ever met in 

 your life ! ** I made some soothing rejoinder, 

 and then away he went. 



Before relating what actually happened in the 

 Derby that year it is necessary, in order that the 

 reader may have a full grasp of the situation, 

 to refer to the unhappy plight in which the 

 Danebury party found themselves on the eve of 

 the race. While we at Kingsclere, the previous 

 autumn, were gloating over our splendid trio, 

 John Day and the Marquis of Hastings were 

 equally wrapped up in Lady Elizabeth and The 

 Earl. It would, perhaps, be more correct to 

 name Lady Elizabeth alone, for, as a two-year-old, 

 she was much superior to the colt. Indeed, so 

 great was the confidence of the Danebury people 

 in the filly *s abilities that, while backing her to 

 win them a big stake in the Derby, they, it was 

 alleged, laid heavily against The Earl. This 

 daring procedure landed them in a terrible mess. 



