^THE FRENCH VEAR,' 1S&5. 153 



value — should not have been thought worth picking 

 up. The explanation probably lies in the fact that, at 

 York Spring Meeting, ochls of 10 to 1 were quoted 

 asfainst the Count's candidate for the Oaks ; later on, in 

 the season at Bath, 1,900 to 300 was taken about Fille 

 de I'Air— about which enough has now been said.' 



The confederacy of gentlemen of which Count 

 Lagrange was at one time the moving power con- 

 ducted their operations in a business spirit, so that 

 they were able to put money m their purses. For 

 popularity they cared nothing — the horse, to them, 

 was simply an instrument to gamble with. It is not 

 pleasant to have to speak evil of a dead man who can 

 give no explanation, and who can offer no defence, 

 and it is quite possible that, had he chosen to do so, 

 he could have shown that no action of his was in the 

 least degree wrong — at all events, he quite disregarded 

 an}^ insinuations that were made against him, ever 

 looking on at the great game with a pleasant coun- 

 tenance. 



