204 EACECOUESE AND COVEET SIDE. 



ready-money ring, but had quietly gone away 

 and lunched on a friendly drag, promised his 

 sisters diamond rings, and thought over half a 

 score of benevolent schemes for other people's 

 gratification, if only Proserpine won the Cup ; 

 for he was a good little fellow, never so pleased 

 as when he was pleasing somebody else. Then 

 came the news. A friend strolled up to have 

 some lunch, took his seat on the drag, and, as 

 with good appetite he made his way through a 

 plateful of pigeon pie, casually observed — 



''A shame to disqualify The Admiral, wasn't 

 it ? I didn't see anything wrong in the race 

 —did you?" 



"To do what — to disqualify The Admiral ! " 

 he cried. '' I've heard nothing of this ! What 

 are you talking about ? " 



" Why, Eose, who was on the second, ^sop, 

 objected to The Admiral on the ground of a 

 cross, and the objection is sustained — so the race 

 goes to ^sop. I saw The Admiral swerve a bit 

 from the whip, which that little butcher boy, 

 Jarratt, took up quite unnecessarily ; but I don't 

 believe he interfered with ^Esop in the least. 

 However, it is settled. Thanks, I think I'll 

 have some champagne," and he went on with 

 his lunch. 



Disqualified ! Then if Proserpine did not 



