LUCKLESS FRIAR^S BALSAM 311 



busy. Sir John Astley came on the scene, and 

 rushed to Mr. Weatherby*s rescue. But he 

 was too late ; the thieves had finished their 

 "job,'* and bolted as the portly baronet ap- 

 proached. Mr. Weatherby was staying at Tad- 

 worth, and had to ride past Tattenham Corner. 

 I was sitting there that afternoon in a landau 

 with my wife. I had not my watch on me — I 

 never took it to Epsom — and was wondering 

 whether it was not time I went to the stables to 

 look after my horses. Seeing Mr. Weatherby, 

 I asked him what o'clock it was. He looked at 

 me wistfully. " Who has been telling you ? " 

 he asked. ** Telling me what ? '* I rejoined. 

 When he found I had put my first question in all 

 innocence, he proceeded to tell me what had 

 happened. I never heard, but I have no doubt 

 he got his watch back. 



I was leaving the Brighton racecourse one 

 day with Mr. H. Newman, a great friend of old 

 Alec Taylor's. We had come out while the last 

 race was being run, but before we could get a cab 

 the race was over and there was the customary 

 rush from the stand. Newman was accosted by 

 a ruffian, who pulled out his watch and broke it 

 off the chain. Glancing at his ** capture," the 

 thief found it was a cheap one, and flung the 

 watch at Newman's head. Newman was yelling 

 for the police. I turned to him and said, " For 

 .Heaven's sake, be quiet. If you give the thief 



