ASCOT AND NEWBURY 297 



spitefully libellous things of him and his relations 

 — things to which the Eastern " May dogs defile 

 the grave of his grandmother " were courtly 

 compliments. If anything would make a man 

 '*put 'em up," the marauders' remarks must ; but 

 poor chap, he couldn't put 'em up without taking 

 them out of his pockets, and the wickeder became 

 their persecution the more determined was he to 

 stick to his stuff. Alas ! though practically 

 armour-plated nearly all over, there was the one 

 weak spot by which the whole strength of any- 

 thing is to be gauged. Figuratively speaking, 

 and without regard to anatomical accuracy, he 

 had an Achilles' heel on the top of his head, with 

 fiendish malignity one of the bandits turned his 

 smoking, juicy quid out and gave his prey to 

 understand what he meant doing with It, and 

 that was to dab It on the top of the tall hat. 

 They could, and did, pay Into his tender parts, 

 corporeally and cruelly lacerate his inward 

 feelings without moving him from his line of 

 defence. Having his faith, also the fair fame of 

 his female family, assailed had been nearly, but 

 not quite, enough to rouse the British Lion, but 

 the quid put the finishing touch. If anything 

 should be sacred the silk hat must. Out came 

 his hands to defend the cadey ; in went the 

 prigs'. In saving his hat he lost every shilling 

 of his money. 



With everything up to date at Newbury Races, 

 I have been much struck by an unaccustomed 

 sensation of old-fashionedness over all. Further, 

 something seemed to be missing to fit In with 

 the mysterious Impression that this was not a 

 new but a very old going concern. Walking 

 to and from the course from Newbury I 



