FIRST TRIP TO MONTE CARLO 



I left them to their contentment until after the last 

 event, in which I finished second. 



" We couldn't see that jacket of yours," said Aunt 

 Lib when the racing was finished, " you weren't per- 

 forming in front that time." 



" No," I answered ; " it was a friend of mine's turn." 



Poor dears, that one day gave them enough of 

 racing. They never wanted to go again. I often 

 wished that I could get an exact impression of what 

 they thought about it all. I confess that it took a little 

 moral courage to stand the smiles of all the people 

 round during the loud talk of the two dear women, 

 especially when one of them embraced me warmly — 

 a thing she was quite liable to do — bless her ! — several 

 times a day. No one was rude, however, or ridiculed 

 us, but I dare say many will understand my very mixed 

 feelings when they asked me in the hearing of scores 

 of people when I was going to do — my circus turn ! 

 Anyhow they went away very happy. It must have 

 been funny to hear them telling all the folks at home 

 about their trip. 



I think they would have come to Europe if I'd asked 

 them. They had so much to learn — and so had I for 

 the matter of that ! 



Perhaps I was a bit green when towards Christmas 

 in 1897 I left London for Paris and Monte Carlo. Ed. 

 Gaines was still with me, and I had another man too. 

 On arriving at Paris we went to the Grand Hotel — 

 that was before it was altered of course. I asked 

 for a bedroom with a bathroom off, but was told that 

 they hadn't got one ; then after a bit of whispering I 

 found that they only had one private bathroom and 

 that was in a swell suite costing something like a 

 hundred and fifty francs a day. I took it and the 

 boys accommodated themselves in two bedrooms 



75 



