98 STABLE SECRETS. 



was declared that " lie liad cleared out the lot," soon shortened 

 the "liberal odds;" and, to the infinite surprise of "the 

 talent," to say little of the profound astonishment of many not 

 claiming to be associates of that distinguished body, the voice 

 of the people (of Newmarket) began to declare that " it ivas in 

 Sunshine's power to pull off the Cesarewitch with eight stone 

 seven." 



By degrees, as may be surmised, the chance of the colt by 

 Glitter, dam Comet, by Falling Star, began to attain a lofty 

 position, and the "top weight" in the handicap eventually 

 occupied the first place in the betting. 



Mr. James Sloper once more " stood on velvet," and the 

 soft, smooth fabric appeared to agree remarkably well, meta- 

 phorically speaking, with his feet. He had backed the horse 

 at thirty to one, and a strong desire being manifested to " get 

 out" by those who had fully opened their books against him, 

 Sunshine stood firmly, on the morning of the race, at the 

 short figure of six to one, as the " official report" added, 

 taken. 



By commission Mr. James Sloper, who never, either by 

 word or sign, signified personally his intended operations in 

 " the ring," edged his money, and found himself, some hours 

 before the start, in that most pleasant and easy condition for a 

 speculator on the turf, a probable winner of a good stake, and 

 an impossible loser of nothing. Mr. James Sloper, therefore, 

 " stood on velvet." 



Si^erfluous may it seem to state that, on the day appointed 

 for the decision of the Cesarewitch, Newmarket was in that state 

 commonly called "a bustle." Newmarket responded to the 

 summons to "wake up" by "looking alive," and had shaken off 

 that dead, calm, sepulchral appearance which gives to the 

 stranger a superstitious dread of walking in her highways and 

 byeways by moonlight. Ghosts, and things of the small hours 

 which dance and revel when the stars glitcer, may readily be 

 pictured to have made Newmarket their head-quarters and 



