hewill
,
"
chorused
half
a
dozen
voices
.
"
With
all
our
pots
on
him
,
"
added
the
Seraph
.
"
He
's
too
much
of
a
gentleman
to
put
us
all
up
a
tree
;
he
knows
he
carries
the
honour
of
the
Household
.
"
"
There
are
some
good
mounts
,
there
's
no
denying
that
,
"
said
Chesterfield
of
the
Blues
(
who
was
called
Tom
for
no
other
reason
than
that
it
was
entirely
unlike
his
real
name
of
Adolphus
)
,
where
he
was
curled
up
almost
invisible
,
except
for
the
movement
of
the
jessamine
stick
of
his
chibouque
.
"
That
brute
,
Day
Star
,
is
a
splendid
fencer
,
and
for
a
brook
jumper
,
it
would
be
hard
to
beat
Wild
Geranium
,
though
her
shoulders
are
not
quite
what
they
ought
to
be
.
Montecute
,
too
,
can
ride
a
good
thing
,
and
he
's
got
one
in
Pas
de
Charge
.
"
"
I
'm
not
much
afraid
of
Monti
,
he
makes
too
wild
a
burst
first
;
he
never
saves
one
atom
,
"
yawned
Cecil
,
with
the
coils
of
his
hookah
bubbling
among
the
rose-water
;
"
the
man
I
'm
afraid
of
is
that
fellow
from
the
Twelfth
;
he
's
as
light
as
a
feather
and
as
hard
as
steel
.
I
watched
him
yesterday
going
over
the
water
,
and
the
horse
he
'll
ride
for
Trelawney
is
good
enough
to
beat
even
the
King
if
he
's
properly
piloted
.
"
"
You
have
n't
kept
yourself
in
condition
,
Beauty
,
"
growled
"
Tom
,
"
with
the
chibouque
in
his
mouth
,
"
else
nothing
could
give
you
the
go-by
.
Its
tempting
Providence
to
go
in
for
the
Gilt
Vase
after
such
a
December
and
January
as
you
spent
in
Paris
.
Even
the
week
you
've
been
in
the
Shires
you
have
n't
trained
a
bit
;
you
've
been
waltzing
or
playing
baccarât
till
five
in
the
morning
,
and
taking
no
end
of
sodas
after
to
bring
you
right
for
the
meet
at
nine
.
If
a
man
will
drink
champagnes
and
burgundies
as
you
do
,
and
spend
his
time
after
women
,
I
should
like
to
know
how
he
's
to
be
in
hard
riding
condition
,
unless
he
expects
a
miracle
.
"
With
which
Chesterfield
,
who
weighed
fourteen
stone
himself
,
and
was
,
therefore
,
out
of
all
but
welter-races
,
and
wanted
a
weight
carrier
of
tremendous
power
even
for
them
,
subsided
under
a
heap
of
velvet
and
cashmere
,
and
Cecil
laughed
:
lying
on
a
divan
just
under
one
of
the
gas
branches
,
the
light
fell
full
on
his
handsome
face
,
with
its
fair
hue
and
its
gentle
languor
on
which
there
was
not
a
single
trace
of
the
outre
cuidance
attributed
to
him
.
Both
he
and
the
Seraph
could
lead
the
wildest
life
of
any
men
in
Europe
without
looking
one
shadow
more
worn
than
the
brightest
beauty
of
the
season
,
and
could
hold
wassail
in
riotous
rivalry
till
the
sun
rose
,
and
then
throw
themselves
into
saddle
as
fresh
as
if
they
had
been
sound
asleep
all
night
,
to
keep
up
with
the
pack
the
whole
day
in
a
fast
burst
or
on
a
cold
scent
,
or
in
whatever
sport
Fortune
and
the
converts
gave
them
,
till
their
second
horses
wound
their
way
homewards
through
muddy
leafless
lanes
,
when
the
stars
had
risen
.
"
Beauty
do
n't
believe
in
training
.
No
more
do
I
.
Never
would
train
for
anything
,
"
said
the
Seraph
,
now
,
pulling
the
long
tawny
moustaches
that
were
not
altogether
in
character
with
his
seraphic
cognomen
.
"
If
a
man
can
ride
—
let
him
.
If
he
's
born
to
the
pigskin
he
'll
be
in
at
the
distance
safe
enough
,
whether
he
smoke
or
do
n't
smoke
,
drink
or
do
n't
drink
.
As
for
training
on
raw
chops
,
giving
up
wine
,
living
like
the
very
deuce
and
all
,
as
if
you
were
in
a
monastery
,
and
changing
yourself
into
a
mere
bag
of
bones
—
it
's
utter
bosh
!
You
might
as
well
be
in
purgatory
;
besides
,
it
's
no
more
credit
to
win
then
than
if
you
were
a
professional
.
"
"
But
you
must
have
trained
at
Christ
Church
,
Rock
,
for
the
Eight
?
"
asked
another
Guardsman
,
Sir
Vere
Bellingham
,
"
Severe
,
"
as
he
was
christened
,
chiefly
because
he
was
the
easiest-going
giant
in
existence
.
"
Did
I
!
Men
came
to
me
;
wanted
me
to
join
the
Eight
;
coxswain
came
,
awful
strict
little
fellow
,
docked
his
men
of
all
their
fun
—
took
plenty
himself
,
though
!
Coxswain
said
I
must
begin
to
train
,
do
as
all
his
crew
did
.
I
threw
up
my
sleeve
and
showed
him
my
arm
;
"
and
the
Seraph
stretched
out
an
arm
magnificent
enough
for
a
statue
of
Milo
.
"
I
said
,
'
There
,
sir
,
I
'll
help
you
thrash
Cambridge
if
you
like
,
but
train
I
wo
n't
,
for
you
or
for
all
the
University
.
I
've
been
Captain
of
the
Eton
Eight
,
but
I
did
n't
keep
my
crew
on
tea
and
toast
.
I
fattened
'
em
regularly
three
times
a
week
on
venison
and
champagne
at
Christopher
's
.
Very
happy
to
feed
yours
,
too
,
if
you
like
;
game
comes
down
to
me
every
Friday
from
the
Duke
's
moors
;
they
look
uncommonly
as
if
they
wanted
it
!
'
You
should
have
seen
his
face
!
—
Fatten
the
Eight
!
He
did
n't
let
me
do
that
,
of
course
,
but
he
was
very
glad
of
my
oar
in
his
rowlocks
,
and
I
helped
him
beat
Cambridge
without
training
an
hour
myself
except
so
far
as
rowing
hard
went
.
"
And
Philip
,
Marquis
of
Rockingham
,
made
thirsty
by
the
recollection
,
dipped
his
fair
moustaches
into
a
foaming
seltzer
.
"
Quite
right
,
Seraph
!
"
said
Cecil
.
"
When
a
man
comes
up
to
the
weights
,
looking
like
a
homonunculus
after
he
's
been
getting
every
atom
of
flesh
off
him
like
a
jockey
,
he
ought
to
be
struck
out
for
the
stakes
,
to
my
mind
.
'
Tis
n't
a
question
of
riding
,
then
,
nor
yet
of
pluck
,
or
of
management
;
it
's
nothing
but
a
question
of
pounds
,
and
of
who
can
stand
the
tamest
life
the
longest
.
"
"
Well
,
beneficial
for
one
's
morals
,
at
any
rate
,
"
suggested
Sir
Vere
.
"
Morals
be
hanged
!
"
said
Bertie
,
very
immorally
.
"
I
'm
glad
you
remind
us
of
them
,
Vere
,
you
're
such
a
quintessence
of
decorum
and
respectability
yourself
!
I
say
—
anybody
know
anything
of
this
fellow
of
the
Twelfth
that
's
to
ride
Trelawney
's
chesnut
?
"
"
Jimmy
Delmar
?
Oh
yes
;
I
know
Jimmy
,
"
answered
Lord
Cosmo
Wentworth
,
of
the
Scots
Fusiliers
,
from
the
far
depths
of
an
arm-chair
.
"
Knew
him
at
Aldershot
.
Fine
rider
;
give
you
a
good
bit
of
trouble
,
Beauty
.
Has
n't
been
in
England
for
years
;
troop
been
such
a
while
at
Calcutta
.
The
Fancy
take
to
him
rather
;
offering
very
freely
on
him
this
morning
in
the
Village
;
and
he
's
got
a
rare
good
thing
in
the
chesnut
.
"
"
Not
a
doubt
of
it
.
The
White
Lily
blood
,
out
of
that
Irish
mare
D'Orleans
Diamonds
,
too
.
"
"
Never
mind
!
Twelfth
wo
n't
beat
us
.
The
Household
will
win
safe
enough
,
unless
Forest
King
goes
and
breaks
his
back
over
Brixworth
—
eh
,
Beauty
?
"
said
the
Seraph
,
who
believed
devoutly
in
his
comrade
,
with
all
the
loving
loyalty
characteristic
of
the
House
of
Lyonnesse
,
that
to
monarchs
and
to
friends
had
often
cost
it
very
dear
.
"
You
put
your
faith
in
the
wrong
quarter
,
Rock
;
I
may
fail
you
,
he
never
will
,
"
said
Cecil
,
with
ever
so
slight
a
dash
of
sadness
in
his
words
.
The
thought
crossed
him
of
how
boldly
,
how
straightly
,
how
gallantly
the
horse
always
breasted
and
conquered
his
difficulties
—
did
he
himself
deal
half
so
well
with
his
own
?
"
Well
!
you
both
of
you
carry
all
our
money
and
all
our
credit
;
so
for
the
fair
fame
of
the
Household
do
'
all
you
know
.
'
I
have
n't
hedged
a
shilling
,
not
laid
off
a
farthing
,
Bertie
;
I
stand
on
you
and
the
King
,
and
nothing
else
.
See
what
a
sublime
faith
I
have
in
you
.
"
"
I
do
n't
think
you
're
wise
,
then
,
Seraph
;
the
field
will
be
very
strong
,
"
said
Cecil
,
languidly
.
The
answer
was
indifferent
,
and
certainly
thankless
;
but
under
his
drooped
lids
a
glance
,
frank
and
warm
,
rested
for
the
moment
on
the
Seraph
's
leonine
strength
and
Raphaelesque
head
;
it
was
not
his
way
to
say
it
,
or
to
show
it
,
or
even
much
to
think
it
;
but
in
his
heart
he
loved
his
old
friend
wonderfully
well
.
And
they
talked
on
of
little
else
than
of
the
great
steeple-chase
of
the
Service
,
for
the
next
hour
in
the
Tabâk-Parliament
,
while
the
great
clouds
of
scented
smoke
circled
heavily
round
,
making
a
halo
of
turkish
above
the
gold
locks
of
the
Titanic
Seraph
,
steeping
Chesterfield
's
velvets
in
strong
odours
of
cavendish
,
and
drifting
a
light
rose-scented
mist
over
Bertie
's
long
lithe
limbs
,
light
enough
and
skilled
enough
to
disdain
all
"
training
for
the
weights
.
"
"
That
's
not
the
way
to
be
in
condition
,
"
growled
"
Tom
,
"
getting
up
with
a
great
shake
as
the
clock
clanged
the
strokes
of
five
;
they
had
only
returned
from
a
ball
three
miles
off
when
Cecil
had
paid
his
visit
to
the
loose
box
.
Bertie
laughed
;
his
laugh
was
like
himself
,
rather
languid
but
very
light-hearted
,
very
silvery
,
very
engaging
.
"
Sit
and
smoke
till
breakfast-time
if
you
like
,
Tom
;
it
wo
n't
make
any
difference
to
me
.
"
But
the
Smoke-Parliament
would
n't
hear
of
the
champion
of
the
Household
over
the
ridge
and
furrow
risking
the
steadiness
of
his
wrist
and
the
keenness
of
his
eye
by
any
such
additional
tempting
of
Providence
,
and
went
off
itself
in
various
directions
,
with
good-night
iced
drinks
,
yawning
considerably
like
most
other
Parliaments
after
a
sitting
.
It
was
the
old
place
in
the
Shires
of
the
Royallieu
Family
in
which
he
had
congregated
half
the
Guardsmen
in
the
Service
for
the
great
event
,
and
consequently
the
bachelor
chambers
in
it
were
of
the
utmost
comfort
and
spaciousness
,
and
when
Cecil
sauntered
into
his
old
quarters
,
familiar
from
boyhood
,
he
could
not
have
been
better
off
in
his
own
luxurious
haunts
in
Piccadilly
.
Moreover
,
the
first
thing
that
caught
his
eye
was
a
dainty
scarlet
silk
riding
jacket
broidered
in
gold
and
silver
,
with
the
motto
of
his
house
,
"
Coeur
Vaillant
Se
Fait
Royaume
,
"
all
circled
with
oak
and
laurel
leaves
on
the
collar
.
It
was
the
work
of
very
fair
hands
,
of
very
aristocratic
hands
,
and
he
looked
at
it
with
a
smile
.
"
Ah
,
my
lady
,
my
lady
!
"
he
thought
half
aloud
,
"
do
you
really
love
me
?
Do
I
really
love
you
?
"
There
was
a
laugh
in
his
eyes
as
he
asked
himself
what
might
be
termed
an
interesting
question
;
then
something
more
earnest
came
over
his
face
,
and
he
stood
a
second
with
the
pretty
costly
embroideries
in
his
hand
,
with
a
smile
that
was
almost
tender
,
though
it
was
still
much
more
amused
.
"
I
suppose
we
do
,
"
he
concluded
at
last
;
"
at
least
,
quite
as
much
as
is
ever
worth
while
.
Passions
do
n't
do
for
the
drawing-room
,
as
somebody
says
in
"
Coningsby
;
"
besides
—
I
would
not
feel
a
strong
emotion
for
the
universe
.
Bad
style
always
,
and
more
detrimental
to
'
condition
,
'
as
Tom
would
say
,
than
three
bottles
of
brandy
!
"
He
was
so
little
near
what
he
dreaded
,
at
present
at
least
,
that
the
scarlet
jacket
was
tossed
down
again
,
and
gave
him
no
dreams
of
its
fair
and
titled
embroideress
.
He
looked
out
,
the
last
thing
,
at
some
ominous
clouds
drifting
heavily
up
before
the
dawn
,
and
the
state
of
the
weather
,
and
the
chance
of
its
being
rainy
,
filled
his
thoughts
,
to
the
utter
exclusion
of
the
donor
of
that
bright
gold-laden
dainty
gift
.
"
I
hope
to
goodness
there
wo
n't
be
any
drenching
shower
.
Forest
King
can
stand
ground
as
hard
as
a
slate
,
but
if
there
's
one
thing
he
's
weak
in
,
it
's
slush
!
"
was
Bertie
's
last
conscious
thought
as
he
stretched
his
limbs
out
and
fell
sound
asleep
.
CHAPTER
III
.
THE
SOLDIERS
'
BLUE
RIBAND
.
"
Take
the
Field
bar
one
.
"
"
Two
to
one
on
Forest
King
.
"
"
Two
to
one
on
Bay
Regent
.
"
"
Fourteen
to
seven
on
Wild
Geranium
.
"
"
Seven
to
two
against
Brother
to
Fairy
.
"
"
Three
to
five
on
Pas
de
Charge
.
"
"
Nineteen
to
six
on
Day
Star
.
"
"
Take
the
Field
bar
one
,
"
rose
above
the
hoarse
tumultuous
roar
of
the
Ring
on
the
clear
,
crisp
,
sunny
morning
that
was
shining
on
the
Shires
on
the
day
of
the
famous
steeple-chase
.
The
talent
had
come
in
great
muster
from
London
;
the
great
bookmakers
were
there
with
their
stentor
lungs
and
their
quiet
quick
entry
of
thousands
;
and
the
din
and
the
turmoil
,
at
the
tiptop
of
their
height
,
were
more
like
a
gathering
on
the
Heath
or
before
the
Red
House
,
than
the
local
throngs
that
usually
mark
steeple-chase
meetings
,
even
when
they
be
the
Grand
Military
or
the
Grand
National
.
There
were
keen
excitement
and
heavy
stakes
on
the
present
event
;
the
betting
had
never
stood
still
a
second
in
Town
or
the
Shires
;
and
even
the
"
knowing
ones
,
"
the
worshippers
of
the
"
flat
"
alone
,
the
professionals
who
ran
down
gentlemen
races
,
and
the
hypercritics
who
affirmed
that
there
is
not
such
a
thing
as
a
steeple-chaser
to
be
found
on
earth
(
since
,
to
be
a
fencer
,
a
water-jumper
,
and
a
racer
,
were
to
attain
an
equine
perfection
impossible
on
earth
,
whatever
it
may
be
in
"
the
happy
hunting-ground
"
of
immortality
)
—
even
these
,
one
and
all
of
them
,
came
eager
to
see
the
running
for
the
Gilt
Vase
.
For
it
was
known
very
well
that
the
Guards
had
backed
their
horse
tremendously
,
and
the
county
laid
most
of
its
money
on
him
,
and
the
bookmakers
were
shy
of
laying
off
much
against
one
of
the
first
cross-country
riders
of
the
Service
,
who
had
landed
his
mount
at
the
Grand
National
Handicap
,
the
Billesdon
Coplow
,
the
Ealing
,
the
Curragh
,
the
Prix
du
Donjon
,
the
Rastatt
,
and
almost
every
other
for
which
he
had
entered
.
Yet
,
despite
this
,
the
"
Fancy
"
took
most
to
Bay
Regent
;
they
thought
he
would
"
cut
the
work
out
;
"
his
sire
had
won
the
Champagne
Stakes
at
Doncaster
,
and
the
Drawing-room
at
"
glorious
Goodwood
,
"
and
that
racing
strain
through
the
White
Lily
blood
,
coupled
with
a
magnificent
reputation
which
he
brought
from
Leicestershire
as
a
fencer
,
found
him
chief
favour
among
the
Fraternity
.
His
jockey
,
Jimmy
Delmar
,
too
,
with
his
bronzed
,
muscular
,
sinewy
frame
,
his
low
stature
,
his
light
weight
,
his
sunburnt
,
acute
face
,
and
a
way
of
carrying
his
hands
as
he
rode
that
was
precisely
like
Aldcroft
's
,
looked
a
hundred
times
more
professional
than
the
brilliance
of
"
Beauty
,
"
and
the
reckless
dash
of
his
well-known
way
of
"
sending
the
horse
along
with
all
he
had
in
him
,
"
which
was
undeniably
much
more
like
a
fast
kill
over
the
Melton
country
than
like
a
weight-for-age
race
anywhere
.
"
You
see
the
Service
in
his
stirrups
,
"
said
an
old
nobbler
who
had
watched
many
a
trial
spin
,
lying
hidden
in
a
ditch
or
a
drain
;
and
indisputably
you
did
:
Bertie
's
riding
was
superb
,
but
it
was
still
the
riding
of
a
cavalryman
,
not
of
a
jockey
.
The
mere
turn
of
the
foot
in
the
stirrups
told
it
,
as
the
old
man
had
the
shrewdness
to
know
.
So
the
King
went
down
at
one
time
two
points
in
the
morning
betting
.
"
Know
them
flash
cracks
of
the
Household
,
"
said
Tim
Varnet
,
as
sharp
a
little
Leg
as
ever
"
got
on
"
a
dark
thing
,
and
"
went
halves
"
with
a
jock
who
consented
to
rope
a
favourite
at
the
Ducal
.
"
Them
swells
,
ye
see
,
they
give
any
money
for
blood
.
They
just
go
by
Godolphin
heads
,
and
little
feet
,
and
winners
'
strains
,
and
all
the
rest
of
it
;
and
so
long
as
they
get
pedigree
never
look
at
substance
;
and
their
bone
comes
no
bigger
than
a
deer
's
.
Now
,
its
force
as
well
as
pace
that
tells
over
a
bit
of
plough
;
a
critter
that
would
win
the
Derby
on
the
flat
would
knock
up
over
the
first
spin
over
the
clods
;
and
that
King
's
legs
are
too
light
for
my
fancy
,
'
andsome
as
'
t
is
ondeniable
he
looks
—
for
a
little
'
un
,
as
one
may
say
.
"
And
Tim
Varnet
exactly
expressed
the
dominant
mistrust
of
the
talent
;
despite
all
his
race
and
all
his
exploits
,
the
King
was
not
popular
in
the
Ring
,
because
he
was
like
his
backers
—
"
a
swell
.
"
They
thought
him
"
showy
—
very
showy
,
"
"
a
picture
to
frame
,
"
"
a
lustre
to
look
at
;
"
but
they
disbelieved
in
him
,
almost
to
a
man
,
as
a
stayer
,
and
they
trusted
him
scarcely
at
all
with
their
money
.
"
It
's
plain
that
he
's
'
meant
,
'
though
,
"
thought
little
Tim
,
who
was
so
used
to
the
"
shady
"
in
stable
matters
,
that
he
could
hardly
persuade
himself
that
even
the
Grand
Military
could
be
run
fair
,
and
would
have
thought
a
Guardsman
or
a
Hussar
only
exercised
his
just
privilege
as
a
jockey
in
"
roping
"
after
selling
the
race
,
if
so
it
suited
his
book
.
"
He
's
'
meant
,
'
that
's
clear
,
'
cause
the
swells
have
put
all
their
pots
on
him
—
but
if
the
pots
do
n't
bile
over
,
strike
me
a
loser
!
"
a
contingency
he
knew
he
might
very
well
invoke
,
his
investments
being
invariably
so
matchlessly
arranged
,
that
let
what
would
be
"
bowled
over
,
"
Tim
Varnet
never
could
be
.
Whatever
the
King
might
prove
,
however
,
the
Guards
,
the
Flower
of
the
Service
,
must
stand
or
fall
by
him
;
they
had
entered
nothing
else
for
the
race
,
so
complete
was
the
trust
that
,
like
the
Seraph
,
they
put
in
"
Beauty
"
and
his
grey
.
But
there
was
no
doubt
as
to
the
tremendousness
of
the
struggle
lying
before
him
.
The
running
ground
covered
four
miles
and
a
half
,
and
had
forty-two
jumps
in
it
,
exclusive
of
the
famous
Brixworth
:
half
was
grassland
,
and
half
ridge
and
furrow
;
a
lane
with
a
very
awkward
double
,
fences
laced
in
and
in
with
the
memorable
blackthorn
,
a
laid
hedge
with
thick
growers
in
it
,
and
many
another
"
teaser
,
"
coupled
with
the
yawning
water
,
made
the
course
a
severe
one
;
while
thirty-two
starters
of
unusual
excellence
gave
a
good
field
and
promised
a
close
race
.
Every
fine
bit
of
steeple-chase
blood
that
was
to
be
found
in
their
studs
had
been
brought
together
by
the
Service
for
the
great
event
;
and
if
the
question
could
ever
be
solved
,
whether
it
is
possible
to
find
a
strain
that
shall
combine
pace
over
the
flat
,
with
a
heart
to
stay
over
an
enclosed
country
,
the
speed
to
race
,
with
the
bottom
to
fence
and
the
force
to
clear
water
,
it
seemed
likely
to
be
settled
now
.
The
Service
and
the
Stable
had
done
their
uttermost
to
reach
its
solution
.
The
clock
of
the
course
pointed
to
half-past
one
;
the
saddling-bell
would
ring
at
a
quarter
to
two
,
for
the
days
were
short
and
darkened
early
;
the
Stewards
were
all
arrived
,
except
the
Marquis
of
Rockingham
,
and
the
Ring
was
in
the
full
rush
of
excitement
,
some
"
getting
on
"
hurriedly
to
make
up
for
lost
time
,
some
"
peppering
"
one
or
other
of
the
favourites
hotly
,
some
laying
off
their
moneys
in
a
cold
fit
of
caution
,
some
putting
capfuls
on
the
King
,
or
Bay
Regent
,
or
Pas
de
Charge
,
without
hedging
a
shilling
.
The
London
talent
,
the
agents
from
the
great
commission
stables
,
the
local
betting
men
,
the
shrewd
wiseacres
from
the
Ridings
,
all
the
rest
of
the
brotherhood
of
the
Turf
were
crowding
together
with
the
deafening
shouting
common
to
them
,
which
sounds
so
tumultuous
,
so
insane
,
and
so
unintelligible
to
outsiders
.
Amidst
them
,
half
the
titled
heads
of
England
,
all
the
great
names
known
on
the
flat
,
and
men
in
the
Guards
,
men
in
the
Rifles
,
men
in
the
Light
Cavalry
,
men
in
the
Heavies
,
men
in
the
Scots
Greys
,
men
in
the
Horse
Artillery
,
men
in
all
the
Arms
and
all
the
Regiments
,
were
backing
their
horses
with
crackers
,
and
jotting
down
figure
after
figure
,
with
jewelled
pencils
,
in
dainty
books
,
taking
long
odds
with
the
fielders
.
Carriages
were
standing
in
long
lines
along
the
course
,
the
stands
were
filled
with
almost
as
bright
a
bevy
of
fashionable
loveliness
as
the
Ducal
brings
together
under
the
park
trees
of
Goodwood
;
the
horses
were
being
led
into
the
enclosure
for
saddling
,
a
brilliant
sun
shone
for
the
nonce
on
the
freshest
of
February
noons
;
beautiful
women
were
fluttering
out
of
their
barouches
in
furs
and
velvets
,
wearing
the
colours
of
the
jockey
they
favoured
,
and
more
predominant
than
any
were
Cecil
's
scarlet
and
white
,
only
rivalled
in
prominence
by
the
azure
of
the
Heavy
Cavalry
champion
,
Sir
Eyre
Montacute
.
A
drag
with
four
bays
—
with
fine
hunting
points
about
them
—
had
dashed
up
,
late
of
course
;
the
Seraph
had
swung
himself
from
the
roller-bolt
into
the
saddle
of
his
hack
(
one
of
those
few
rare
hacks
that
are
perfect
,
and
combine
every
excellence
of
pace
,
bone
,
and
action
under
their
modest
appellative
)
,
and
had
cantered
off
to
join
the
Stewards
,
while
Cecil
had
gone
up
to
a
group
of
ladies
in
the
Grand
Stand
,
as
if
he
had
no
more
to
do
with
the
morning
's
business
than
they
.
Right
in
front
of
that
Stand
was
an
artificial
bullfinch
which
promised
to
treat
most
of
the
field
to
a
"
purler
,
"
a
deep
ditch
dug
and
filled
with
water
,
with
two
towering
blackthorn
fences
on
either
side
of
it
,
as
awkward
a
leap
as
the
most
cramped
country
ever
showed
;
some
were
complaining
of
it
;
it
was
too
severe
,
it
was
unfair
,
it
would
break
the
back
of
every
horse
sent
at
it
.
The
other
Stewards
were
not
unwilling
to
have
it
tamed
down
a
little
,
but
the
Seraph
,
generally
the
easiest
of
all
sweet-tempered
creatures
,
refused
resolutely
to
let
it
be
touched
.
"
Look
here
,
"
said
he
,
confidentially
,
as
he
wheeled
his
hack
round
to
the
Stand
and
beckoned
Cecil
down
—
"
look
here
,
Beauty
,
they
're
wanting
to
alter
that
teaser
,
make
it
less
awkward
,
you
know
,
but
I
would
n't
,
because
I
thought
it
would
look
as
if
I
lessened
it
for
you
,
you
know
.
Still
it
is
a
cracker
and
no
mistake
;
Brixworth
itself
is
nothing
to
it
,
and
if
you
'd
like
it
toned
down
I
'll
let
them
do
it
?
—
—
"
"
My
dear
Seraph
,
not
for
worlds
!
You
were
quite
right
not
to
have
a
thorn
taken
out
.
Why
that
's
where
I
shall
thrash
Bay
Regent
,
"
said
Bertie
,
serenely
,
as
if
the
winning
of
the
stakes
had
been
forecast
in
his
horoscope
.
The
Seraph
whistled
,
stroking
his
moustaches
.
"
Between
ourselves
,
Cecil
,
that
fellow
is
going
up
no
end
.
The
Talent
fancy
him
so
—
—
"
"
Let
them
,
"
said
Cecil
,
placidly
,
with
a
great
cheroot
in
his
mouth
,
lounging
into
the
centre
of
the
Ring
to
hear
how
the
betting
went
on
his
own
mount
,
perfectly
regardless
that
he
would
keep
them
waiting
at
the
weights
while
he
dressed
.
Everybody
there
knew
him
by
name
and
sight
;
and
eager
glances
followed
the
tall
form
of
the
Guards
'
champion
as
he
moved
through
the
press
,
in
a
loose
brown
sealskin
coat
,
with
a
little
strip
of
scarlet
ribbon
round
his
throat
,
nodding
to
this
Peer
,
taking
evens
with
that
,
exchanging
a
whisper
with
a
Duke
,
and
squaring
his
book
with
a
Jew
.
Murmurs
followed
about
him
as
if
he
were
the
horse
himself
:
"
Looks
in
racing
form
"
—
"
Looks
used
up
,
to
me
"
—
"
Too
little
hands
surely
to
hold
in
long
in
a
spin
"
—
"
Too
much
length
in
the
limbs
for
a
light
weight
,
bone
's
always
awfully
heavy
"
—
"
Dark
under
the
eye
,
been
going
too
fast
for
trainin
"
'
—
"
A
swell
all
over
,
but
rides
no
end
;
"
with
other
innumerable
contradictory
phrases
,
according
as
the
speaker
was
"
on
"
him
or
against
him
,
buzzed
about
him
from
the
riffraff
of
the
Ring
,
in
no
way
disturbing
his
serene
equanimity
.
One
man
,
a
big
fellow
,
"
ossy
"
all
over
,
with
the
genuine
sporting
cut-away
coat
,
and
a
superabundance
of
showy
nectie
and
bad
jewellery
,
eyed
him
curiously
,
and
slightly
turned
so
that
his
back
was
towards
Bertie
,
as
the
latter
was
entering
a
bet
with
another
Guardsman
well
known
on
the
Turf
,
and
he
himself
was
taking
long
odds
with
little
Berk
Cecil
,
the
boy
having
betted
on
his
brother
's
riding
as
though
he
had
the
Bank
of
England
at
his
back
.
Indeed
,
save
that
the
lad
had
the
hereditary
Royallieu
instinct
of
extravagance
,
and
,
with
a
half
thoughtless
,
half
wilful
improvidence
,
piled
debts
and
difficulties
on
his
rather
brainless
and
boyish
head
,
he
had
much
more
to
depend
on
than
his
elder
;
for
the
old
Lord
Royallieu
doted
on
him
,
spoilt
him
,
and
denied
him
nothing
,
though
himself
a
stern
,
austere
,
passionate
man
,
made
irascible
by
ill-health
,
and
,
in
his
fits
of
anger
,
a
very
terrible
personage
indeed
,
no
more
to
be
conciliated
by
persuasion
than
iron
is
to
be
bent
by
the
hand
;
so
terrible
,
that
even
his
pet
dreaded
him
mortally
,
and
came
to
Bertie
to
get
his
imprudences
and
peccadilloes
covered
from
the
Viscount
's
sight
.
Glancing
round
at
this
moment
as
he
stood
in
the
Ring
,
Cecil
saw
the
betting-man
with
whom
Berkeley
was
taking
long
odds
on
the
race
;
he
raised
his
eyebrows
and
his
face
darkened
for
a
second
,
though
resuming
his
habitual
listless
serenity
almost
immediately
.
"
You
remember
that
case
of
welshing
after
the
Ebor
St.
Leger
,
Con
?
"
he
said
in
a
low
tone
to
the
Earl
of
Constantia
,
with
whom
he
was
talking
.
The
Earl
nodded
assent
,
every
one
had
heard
of
it
,
and
a
very
flagrant
case
it
was
.
"
There
's
the
fellow
,
"
said
Cecil
,
laconically
,
and
strode
towards
him
with
his
long
,
lounging
cavalry-swing
.
The
man
turned
pallid
under
his
florid
skin
,
and
tried
to
edge
imperceptibly
away
;
but
the
density
of
the
throng
prevented
his
moving
quickly
enough
to
evade
Cecil
,
who
stooped
his
head
,
and
said
a
word
in
his
ear
.
It
was
briefly
:
"
Leave
the
Ring
.
"
The
rascal
,
half
bully
,
half
coward
,
rallied
from
the
startled
fear
into
which
his
first
recognition
by
the
Guardsman
(
who
had
been
the
chief
witness
against
him
in
a
very
scandalous
matter
at
York
,
and
who
had
warned
him
that
if
he
ever
saw
him
again
in
the
Ring
he
would
have
him
turned
out
of
it
)
had
thrown
him
,
and
,
relying
on
insolence
and
the
numbers
of
his
fraternity
to
back
him
out
of
it
,
stood
his
ground
.
"
I
've
as
much
right
here
as
you
swells
,
"
he
said
,
with
a
horse-laugh
.
"
Are
you
the
whole
Jockey
Club
that
you
come
it
to
a
honest
gentleman
like
that
?
"
Cecil
looked
down
on
him
slightly
amused
,
immeasurably
disgusted
;
—
of
all
earth
's
terrors
there
was
not
one
so
great
for
him
as
a
scene
,
and
the
eager
bloodshot
eyes
of
the
Ring
were
turning
on
them
by
the
thousand
,
and
the
loud
shouting
of
the
bookmakers
was
thundering
out
,
"
What
's
up
?
"
"
My
'
honest
gentleman
,
'
"
he
said
,
wearily
,
"
leave
this
,
I
tell
you
;
do
you
hear
?
"
"
Make
me
!
"
retorted
the
"
Welsher
,
"
defiant
in
his
stout-built
square
strength
,
and
ready
to
brazen
the
matter
out
.
"
Make
me
,
my
cock
o
'
fine
feathers
!
Put
me
out
of
the
Ring
if
you
can
,
Mr.
Dainty-Limbs
!
I
've
as
much
business
here
as
you
.
"
The
words
were
hardly
out
of
his
mouth
,
before
,
light
as
a
deer
and
close
as
steel
,
Cecil
's
hand
was
on
his
collar
,
and
without
any
seeming
effort
,
without
the
slightest
passion
,
he
calmly
lifted
him
off
the
ground
as
though
he
were
a
terrier
,
and
thrust
him
through
the
throng
;
Ben
Davis
,
as
the
Welsher
was
named
,
meantime
being
so
utterly
amazed
at
such
unlooked-for
might
in
the
grasp
of
the
gentlest
,
idlest
,
most
gracefully
made
,
and
indolently
tempered
of
his
born
foes
and
prey
"
the
swells
,
"
that
he
let
himself
be
forced
along
backward
in
sheer
passive
paralysis
of
astonishment
.
Bertie
,
profoundly
insensible
to
the
tumult
that
began
to
rise
and
roar
about
him
,
from
those
who
were
not
too
absorbed
in
the
business
of
the
morning
to
note
what
took
place
,
thrust
him
along
in
the
single
clasp
of
his
right
hand
,
pushed
him
outward
to
where
the
running
ground
swept
past
the
Stand
,
and
threw
him
,
lightly
,
easily
,
just
as
one
may
throw
a
lapdog
to
take
his
bath
,
into
the
artificial
ditch
filled
with
water
that
the
Seraph
had
pointed
out
as
"
a
teaser
.
"
the
man
fell
unhurt
,
unbruised
,
so
gently
was
he
dropped
on
his
back
among
the
muddy
chilly
water
and
the
overhanging
brambles
;
and
as
he
rose
from
the
ducking
a
shudder
of
ferocious
and
filthy
oaths
poured
from
his
lips
,
increased
tenfold
by
the
uproarious
laughter
of
the
crowd
,
who
knew
him
as
"
a
Welsher
,
"
and
thought
him
only
too
well
served
.
Policemen
rushed
in
at
all
points
,
rural
and
metropolitan
,
breathless
,
austere
,
and
,
of
course
,
too
late
.
Bertie
turned
to
them
with
a
slight
wave
of
his
hand
to
sign
them
away
.
"
Do
n't
trouble
yourselves
!
It
's
nothing
you
could
interfere
in
.
Take
care
that
person
does
not
come
into
the
betting-ring
again
,
that
's
all
.
"
The
Seraph
,
Lord
Constantia
,
Wentworth
,
and
many
others
of
his
set
,
catching
sight
of
the
turmoil
and
of
"
Beauty
,
"
with
the
great
square-set
figure
of
Ben
Davis
pressed
before
him
through
the
mob
,
forced
their
way
up
as
quickly
as
they
could
;
but
before
they
reached
the
spot
Cecil
was
sauntering
back
to
meet
them
,
cool
and
listless
,
and
a
little
bored
with
so
much
exertion
,
his
cheroot
in
his
mouth
,
and
his
ear
serenely
deaf
to
the
clamour
about
the
ditch
.
He
looked
apologetically
at
the
Seraph
and
the
others
;
he
felt
some
apology
was
required
for
having
so
far
wandered
from
all
the
canons
of
his
Order
as
to
have
approached
"
a
row
,
"
and
run
the
risk
of
a
scene
.
"
Turf
must
be
cleared
of
these
scamps
,
you
see
,
"
he
said
,
with
a
half
sigh
.
"
Law
ca
n't
do
anything
.
Fellow
was
trying
to
'
get
on
'
with
the
young
one
too
.
Do
n't
bet
with
those
riffraff
,
Berke
.
The
great
bookmakers
will
make
you
dead
money
,
and
the
little
Legs
will
do
worse
to
you
.
"
The
boy
hung
his
head
,
but
looked
sulky
rather
than
thankful
,
for
his
brother
's
interference
with
himself
and
the
Welsher
.
"
You
have
done
the
Turf
a
service
,
Beauty
,
a
very
great
service
;
there
's
no
doubt
about
that
,
"
said
the
Seraph
.
"
Law
ca
n't
do
anything
,
as
you
say
;
opinion
must
clear
the
Ring
of
such
rascals
;
a
Welsher
ought
not
to
dare
to
show
his
face
here
,
but
,
at
the
same
time
,
you
ought
n't
to
have
gone
unsteadying
your
muscle
,
and
risking
the
firmness
of
your
hand
,
at
such
a
minute
as
this
,
with
pitching
that
fellow
over
.
Why
could
n't
you
wait
till
afterwards
?
Or
have
let
me
do
it
?
"
"
My
dear
Seraph
,
"
murmured
Bertie
,
languidly
,
"
I
've
gone
in
to-day
for
exertion
;
a
little
more
or
less
is
nothing
.
Besides
,
Welshers
are
slippery
dogs
,
you
know
.
"
He
did
not
add
that
it
was
having
seen
Ben
Davis
taking
odds
with
his
young
brother
which
had
spurred
him
to
such
instantaneous
action
with
that
disreputable
personage
,
who
,
beyond
doubt
,
only
received
a
tithe
part
of
his
deserts
,
and
merited
to
be
double-thonged
off
every
course
in
the
kingdom
.
Rake
at
that
instant
darted
panting
like
a
hot
retriever
out
of
the
throng
.
"
Mr.
Cecil
,
sir
,
will
you
please
come
to
the
weights
—
the
saddling-bell
's
a-going
to
ring
,
and
—
—
"
"
Tell
them
to
wait
for
me
;
I
shall
only
be
twenty
minutes
dressing
,
"
said
Cecil
,
quietly
,
regardless
that
the
time
at
which
the
horses
should
have
been
at
the
starting-post
was
then
clanging
from
the
clock
within
the
Grand
Stand
.
Did
you
ever
go
to
a
gentleman-rider
race
where
the
jocks
were
not
at
least
an
hour
behind
time
,
and
considered
themselves
,
on
the
whole
,
very
tolerably
punctual
?
At
last
,
however
,
he
consented
to
saunter
into
the
dressing-shed
,
and
was
aided
by
Rake
into
tops
that
had
at
length
achieved
a
spotless
triumph
,
and
the
scarlet
gold-broidered
jacket
of
his
fair
friend
's
art
with
white
hoops
,
and
the
"
Coeur
Vaillant
Se
Fait
Royaume
"
on
the
collar
,
and
the
white
gleaming
sash
to
be
worn
across
it
,
fringed
by
the
same
fair
hands
with
silver
.
Meanwhile
,
the
"
Welsher
,
"
driven
off
the
course
by
a
hooting
and
indignant
crowd
,
shaking
the
water
from
his
clothes
,
with
bitter
oaths
,
and
livid
with
a
deadly
passion
at
his
exile
from
the
harvest-field
of
his
lawless
gleanings
,
went
his
way
,
with
a
savage
vow
of
vengeance
against
the
"
d
—
d
dandy
,
"
the
"
Guards
'
swell
,
"
who
had
shown
him
up
before
his
world
as
the
scoundrel
he
was
.
The
bell
was
clanging
and
clashing
passionately
,
as
Cecil
at
last
went
down
to
the
weights
,
all
his
friends
of
the
Household
about
him
,
and
all
standing
"
crushers
"
on
their
champion
,
for
their
stringent
esprit
du
corps
was
involved
,
and
the
Guards
are
never
backward
in
putting
their
gold
down
,
as
all
the
world
knows
.
In
the
enclosure
,
the
cynosure
of
devouring
eyes
,
stood
the
King
,
with
the
sang
froid
of
a
superb
gentleman
,
amidst
the
clamour
raging
round
him
,
one
delicate
ear
laid
back
now
and
then
but
otherwise
indifferent
to
the
din
,
with
his
coat
glistening
like
satin
,
the
beautiful
tracery
of
vein
and
muscle
like
the
veins
of
vine-leaves
standing
out
on
the
glossy
clear-carved
neck
that
had
the
arch
of
Circassia
,
and
his
dark
antelope
eyes
gazing
with
a
pensive
earnestness
on
the
shouting
crowd
.
His
rivals
,
too
,
were
beyond
par
in
fitness
and
in
condition
,
and
there
were
magnificent
animals
among
them
.
Bay
Regent
was
a
huge
raking
chesnut
,
upwards
of
sixteen
hands
,
and
enormously
powerful
,
with
very
fine
shoulders
,
and
an
all-over-like-going
head
;
he
belonged
to
a
Colonel
in
the
Hussars
,
but
was
to
be
ridden
by
Jimmy
Delmar
of
the
Twelfth
Lancers
,
whose
colours
were
violet
with
orange
hoops
.
Montacute
's
horse
,
Pas
de
Charge
,
which
carried
most
of
the
money
of
the
English
Heavy
Cavalry
,
Montacute
himself
being
in
the
Dragoon
Guards
,
was
of
much
the
same
order
,
a
black
hunter
with
racing-blood
in
him
,
loins
and
withers
that
assured
any
amount
of
force
,
and
no
fault
but
that
of
a
rather
coarse
head
,
traceable
to
a
slur
on
his
'
scutcheon
on
the
distaff
side
from
a
plebeian
great-grandmother
,
who
had
been
a
cart
mare
,
the
only
stain
in
his
otherwise
faultless
pedigree
.
However
,
she
had
given
him
her
massive
shoulders
,
so
that
he
was
in
some
sense
a
gainer
by
her
after
all
.
Wild
Geranium
was
a
beautiful
creature
enough
,
a
bright
bay
Irish
mare
,
with
that
rich
red
gloss
that
is
like
the
glow
of
a
horse-chesnut
,
very
perfect
in
shape
,
though
a
trifle
light
perhaps
,
and
with
not
quite
strength
enough
in
neck
or
barrel
;
she
would
jump
the
fences
of
her
own
paddock
half
a
dozen
times
a
day
for
sheer
amusement
,
and
was
game
to
anything
.
1
.
She
was
entered
by
Cartouche
of
the
Royal
Irish
Dragoons
,
to
be
ridden
by
"
Baby
Grafton
,
"
of
the
same
corps
,
a
feather-weight
,
and
quite
a
boy
,
but
with
plenty
of
science
in
him
.
These
were
the
three
favourites
;
Day
Star
ran
them
close
,
the
property
of
Durham
Vavassour
,
of
the
Inniskillings
,
and
to
be
ridden
by
his
owner
,
a
handsome
flea-bitten-grey
sixteen-hander
,
with
ragged
hips
,
and
action
that
looked
a
trifle
string-halty
,
but
noble
shoulders
,
and
great
force
in
the
loins
and
withers
;
the
rest
of
the
field
,
though
unusually
excellent
,
did
not
find
so
many
"
sweet
voices
"
for
them
,
and
were
not
so
much
to
be
feared
:
each
starter
was
of
course
much
backed
by
his
party
,
but
the
betting
was
tolerably
even
on
these
four
:
—
all
famous
steeple-chasers
;
—
the
King
at
one
time
,
and
Bay
Regent
at
another
,
slightly
leading
in
the
Ring
.
Thirty-two
starters
were
hoisted
up
on
the
telegraph
board
,
and
as
the
field
got
at
last
under
weigh
,
uncommonly
handsome
they
looked
,
while
the
silk
jackets
of
all
the
colours
of
the
rainbow
glittered
in
the
bright
noon-sun
.
As
Forest
King
closed
in
,
perfectly
tranquil
still
,
but
beginning
to
glow
and
quiver
all
over
with
excitement
,
knowing
as
well
as
his
rider
the
work
that
was
before
him
,
and
longing
for
it
in
every
muscle
and
every
limb
while
his
eyes
flashed
fire
as
he
pulled
at
the
curb
and
tossed
his
head
aloft
,
there
went
up
a
general
shout
of
"
Favourite
!
"
His
beauty
told
on
the
populace
,
and
even
somewhat
on
the
professionals
,
though
the
Legs
still
kept
a
strong
business
prejudice
against
the
working
powers
of
"
the
Guards
'
crack
.
"
The
ladies
began
to
lay
dozens
in
gloves
on
him
;
not
altogther
for
his
points
,
which
,
perhaps
,
they
hardly
appreciated
,
but
for
his
owner
and
rider
,
who
,
in
the
scarlet
and
gold
,
with
the
white
sash
across
his
chest
,
and
a
look
of
serene
indifference
on
his
face
,
they
considered
the
handsomest
man
of
the
field
.
The
Household
is
usually
safe
to
win
the
suffrages
of
the
Sex
.
In
the
throng
on
the
course
Rake
instantly
bonneted
an
audacious
dealer
who
had
ventured
to
consider
that
Forest
King
was
"
light
and
curby
in
the
'
ock
.
"
"
You
're
a
wise
'
un
,
you
are
!
"
retorted
the
wrathful
and
ever
eloquent
Rake
;
"
there
's
more
strength
in
his
clean
flat
legs
,
bless
him
!
than
in
all
the
round
thick
mill-posts
of
your
half-breds
,
that
have
no
more
tendon
than
a
bit
of
wood
,
and
are
just
as
flabby
as
a
sponge
!
"
Which
hit
the
dealer
home
just
as
his
hat
was
hit
over
his
eyes
;
Rake
's
arguments
being
unquestionably
in
their
force
.
The
thorough-breds
pulled
and
fretted
,
and
swerved
in
their
impatience
;
one
or
two
over-contumacious
bolted
incontinently
,
others
put
their
heads
between
their
knees
in
the
endeavour
to
draw
their
riders
over
their
withers
;
Wild
Geranium
reared
straight
upright
,
fidgeted
all
over
with
longing
to
be
off
,
passaged
with
the
prettiest
wickedest
grace
in
the
world
,
and
would
have
given
the
world
to
neigh
if
she
had
dared
,
but
she
knew
it
would
be
very
bad
style
,
so
,
like
an
aristocrat
as
she
was
,
restrained
herself
;
Bay
Regent
almost
sawed
Jimmy
Delmar
's
arms
off
,
looking
like
a
Titan
Bucephalus
;
while
Forest
King
,
with
his
nostrils
dilated
till
the
scarlet
tinge
on
them
glowed
in
the
sun
,
his
muscles
quivering
with
excitement
as
intense
as
the
little
Irish
mare
's
,
and
all
his
Eastern
and
English
blood
on
fire
for
the
fray
,
stood
steady
as
a
statue
for
all
that
,
under
the
curb
of
a
hand
light
as
a
woman
's
,
but
firm
as
iron
to
control
,
and
used
to
guide
him
by
the
slightest
touch
.
All
eyes
were
on
that
throng
of
the
first
mounts
in
the
Service
;
brilliant
glances
by
the
hundred
gleamed
down
behind
hothouse
bouquets
of
their
chosen
colour
,
eager
ones
by
the
thousand
stared
thirstily
from
the
crowded
course
,
the
roar
of
the
Ring
subsided
for
a
second
,
a
breathless
attention
and
suspense
succeeded
it
;
the
Guardsmen
sat
on
their
drags
,
or
lounged
near
the
ladies
with
their
race-glasses
ready
,
and
their
habitual
expression
of
gentle
and
resigned
weariness
in
no
wise
altered
,
because
the
Household
,
all
in
all
,
had
from
sixty
to
seventy
thousand
on
the
event
;
and
the
Seraph
murmured
mournfully
to
his
cheroot
,
"
That
chesnut
's
no
end
fit
,
"
strong
as
his
faith
was
in
the
champion
of
the
Brigades
.
A
moment
's
good
start
was
caught
—
the
flag
dropped
—
off
they
went
sweeping
out
for
the
first
second
like
a
line
of
Cavalry
about
to
charge
.
Another
moment
,
and
they
were
scattered
over
the
first
field
,
Forest
King
,
Wild
Geranium
,
and
Bay
Regent
leading
for
two
lengths
,
when
Montacute
,
with
his
habitual
"
fast
burst
,
"
sent
Pas
de
Charge
past
them
like
lightning
.
The
Irish
mare
gave
a
rush
and
got
alongside
of
him
;
the
King
would
have
done
the
same
,
but
Cecil
checked
him
and
kept
him
in
that
cool
swinging
canter
which
covered
the
grassland
so
lightly
;
Bay
Regent
's
vast
thundering
stride
was
Olympian
,
but
Jimmy
Delmar
saw
his
worst
foe
in
the
"
Guards
'
crack
,
"
and
waited
on
him
warily
,
riding
superbly
himself
.
The
first
fence
disposed
of
half
the
field
,
they
crossed
the
second
in
the
same
order
,
Wild
Geranium
racing
neck
to
neck
with
Pas
de
Charge
;
the
King
was
all
athirst
to
join
the
duello
,
but
his
owner
kept
him
gently
back
,
saving
his
pace
and
lifting
him
over
the
jumps
as
easily
as
a
lapwing
.
The
second
fence
proved
a
cropper
to
several
,
some
awkward
falls
took
place
over
it
,
and
"
tailing
"
commenced
;
after
the
third
field
,
which
was
heavy
plough
,
all
knocked
off
but
eight
,
and
the
real
struggle
began
in
sharp
earnest
:
a
good
dozen
who
had
shown
a
splendid
stride
over
the
grass
being
done
up
by
the
terrible
work
on
the
clods
.
The
five
favourites
had
it
now
all
to
themselves
;
Day
Star
pounding
onward
at
tremendous
speed
,
Pas
de
Charge
giving
slight
symptoms
of
distress
owing
to
the
madness
of
his
first
burst
,
the
Irish
mare
literally
flying
a-head
of
him
,
Forest
King
and
the
chesnut
waiting
on
one
another
.
In
the
Grand
Stand
the
Seraph
's
eyes
strained
after
the
Scarlet
and
White
,
and
he
muttered
in
his
moustaches
,
"
Ye
Gods
,
what
's
up
!
The
world
's
coming
to
an
end
!
—
Beauty
's
turned
cautious
!
"
Cautious
indeed
—
with
that
giant
of
Pytchley
fame
running
neck
to
neck
by
him
;
cautious
—
with
two-thirds
of
the
course
unrun
,
and
all
the
yawners
yet
to
come
;
cautious
—
with
the
blood
of
Forest
King
lashing
to
boiling
heat
,
and
the
wondrous
greyhound
stride
stretching
out
faster
and
faster
beneath
him
,
ready
at
a
touch
to
break
away
and
take
the
lead
:
but
he
would
be
reckless
enough
by-and-by
;
reckless
,
as
his
nature
was
,
under
the
indolent
serenity
of
habit
.
Two
more
fences
came
,
laced
high
and
stiff
with
the
Shire
thorn
,
and
with
scarce
twenty
feet
between
them
,
the
heavy
ploughed
land
leading
to
them
black
and
hard
,
with
the
fresh
earthy
scent
steaming
up
as
the
hoofs
struck
the
clods
with
a
dull
thunder
.
Pas
de
Charge
rose
to
the
first
:
distressed
too
early
,
his
hind
feet
caught
in
the
thorn
,
and
he
came
down
rolling
clear
of
his
rider
;
Montacute
picked
him
up
with
true
science
,
but
the
day
was
lost
to
the
English
Heavy
Cavalry
.
Forest
King
went
in
and
out
over
both
like
a
bird
and
led
for
the
first
time
;
the
chesnut
was
not
to
be
beat
at
fencing
and
ran
even
with
him
;
Wild
Geranium
flew
still
as
fleet
as
a
deer
;
true
to
her
sex
she
would
not
bear
rivalry
;
but
little
Grafton
,
though
he
rode
like
a
professional
,
was
but
a
young
one
,
and
went
too
wildly
;
her
spirit
wanted
cooler
curb
.
And
now
only
,
Cecil
loosened
the
King
to
his
full
will
and
his
full
speed
.
Now
only
,
the
beautiful
Arab
head
was
stretched
like
a
racer
's
in
the
run-in
for
the
Derby
,
and
the
grand
stride
wept
out
till
the
hoofs
seemed
never
to
touch
the
dark
earth
they
skimmed
over
;
neither
whip
nor
spur
was
needed
;
Bertie
had
only
to
leave
the
gallant
temper
and
the
generous
fire
that
were
roused
in
their
might
to
go
their
way
and
hold
their
own
.
His
hands
were
low
;
his
head
a
little
back
;
his
face
very
calm
,
the
eyes
only
had
a
daring
,
eager
,
resolute
will
lighting
in
them
;
Brixworth
lay
before
him
.
He
knew
well
what
Forest
King
could
do
;
but
he
did
not
know
how
great
the
chesnut
Regent
's
powers
might
be
.
The
water
gleamed
before
them
,
brown
and
swollen
,
and
deepened
with
the
meltings
of
winter
snows
a
month
before
;
the
brook
that
has
brought
so
many
to
grief
over
its
famous
banks
,
since
cavaliers
leapt
it
with
their
falcon
on
their
wrist
,
or
the
mellow
note
of
the
horn
rang
over
the
woods
in
the
hunting
days
of
Stuart
reigns
.
They
knew
it
well
,
that
long
dark
line
,
shimmering
there
in
the
sunlight
,
the
test
that
all
must
pass
who
go
in
for
the
Soldiers
'
Blue
Riband
.
Forest
King
scented
water
,
and
went
on
with
his
ears
pointed
,
and
his
greyhound
stride
lengthening
,
quickening
,
gathering
up
all
its
force
and
its
impetus
for
the
leap
that
was
before
—
then
like
the
rise
and
the
swoop
of
a
heron
he
spanned
the
stream
,
and
,
landing
clear
,
launched
forward
with
the
lunge
of
a
spear
darted
through
air
.
Brixworth
was
passed
—
the
Scarlet
and
White
,
a
mere
gleam
of
bright
colour
,
a
mere
speck
in
the
landscape
,
to
the
breathless
crowds
in
the
Stand
,
sped
on
over
the
brown
and
level
grassland
;
two
and
a
quarter
miles
done
in
four
minutes
and
twenty
seconds
.
Bay
Regent
was
scarcely
behind
him
;
the
chesnut
abhorred
the
water
,
but
a
finer
trained
hunter
was
never
sent
over
the
Shires
,
and
Jimmy
Delmar
rode
like
Grimshaw
himself
.
The
giant
took
the
leap
in
magnificent
style
,
and
thundered
on
neck
and
neck
with
the
"
Guards
'
crack
.
"
The
Irish
mare
followed
,
and
with
miraculous
gameness
landed
safely
;
but
her
hind-legs
slipped
on
the
bank
,
a
moment
was
lost
,
and
"
Baby
"
Grafton
scarce
knew
enough
to
recover
it
,
though
he
scoured
on
nothing
daunted
.
Pas
de
Charge
,
much
behind
,
refused
the
yawner
;
his
strength
was
not
more
than
his
courage
,
but
both
had
been
strained
too
severely
at
first
.
Montacute
struck
the
spurs
into
him
with
a
savage
blow
over
the
head
;
the
madness
was
its
own
punishment
;
the
poor
brute
rose
blindly
to
the
jump
,
and
missed
the
bank
with
a
reel
and
a
crash
;
Sir
Eyre
was
hurled
out
into
the
brook
,
and
the
hope
of
the
Heavies
lay
there
with
his
breast
and
fore-legs
resting
on
the
ground
,
his
hindquarters
in
the
water
,
and
his
back
broken
.
Pas
de
Charge
would
never
again
see
the
starting-flag
waved
,
or
hear
the
music
of
the
hounds
,
or
feel
the
gallant
life
throb
and
glow
through
him
at
the
rallying
notes
of
the
horn
.
His
race
was
run
.
Not
knowing
,
or
looking
,
or
heeding
what
happened
behind
,
the
trio
tore
on
over
the
meadow
and
the
plough
;
the
two
favourites
neck
by
neck
,
the
game
little
mare
hopelessly
behind
,
through
that
one
fatal
moment
over
Brixworth
.
The
turning-flags
were
passed
;
from
the
crowds
on
the
course
a
great
hoarse
roar
came
louder
and
louder
,
and
the
shouts
rang
,
changing
every
second
:
"
Forest
King
wins
"
—
"
Bay
Regent
wins
"
—
"
Scarlet
and
White
's
ahead
"
—
"
Violet
's
up
with
him
"
—
"
Violet
's
past
him
"
—
"
Scarlet
recovers
"
—
"
Scarlet
beats
"
—
"
A
cracker
on
the
King
"
—
"
Ten
to
one
on
the
Regent
"
—
"
Guards
are
over
the
fence
first
"
—
"
Guards
are
winning
"
—
"
Guards
are
losing
"
—
"
Guards
are
beat
!
!
"
Were
they
!
As
the
shout
rose
,
Cecil
's
left
stirrup-leather
snapped
and
gave
way
;
at
the
pace
they
were
going
most
men
,
ay
,
and
good
riders
too
,
would
have
been
hurled
out
of
their
saddle
by
the
shock
;
he
scarcely
swerved
;
a
moment
to
ease
the
King
and
to
recover
his
equilibrium
,
then
he
took
the
pace
up
again
as
though
nothing
had
chanced
.
And
his
comrades
of
the
Household
when
they
saw
this
through
their
race-glasses
,
broke
through
their
serenity
and
burst
into
a
cheer
that
echoed
over
the
grasslands
and
the
coppices
like
a
clarion
,
the
grand
rich
voice
of
the
Seraph
leading
foremost
and
loudest
—
a
cheer
that
rolled
mellow
and
triumphant
down
the
cold
bright
air
like
the
blast
of
trumpets
,
and
thrilled
on
Bertie
's
ear
where
he
came
down
the
course
a
mile
away
.
It
made
his
heart
beat
quicker
with
a
victorious
head-long
delight
,
as
his
knees
pressed
closer
into
Forest
King
's
flanks
,
and
,
half
stirrupless
like
the
Arabs
,
he
thundered
forward
to
the
greatest
riding
feat
of
his
life
.
His
face
was
very
calm
still
,
but
his
blood
was
in
tumult
,
the
delirium
of
pace
had
got
on
him
,
a
minute
of
life
like
this
was
worth
a
year
,
and
he
knew
that
he
would
win
,
or
die
for
it
,
as
the
land
seemed
to
fly
like
a
black
sheet
under
him
,
and
,
in
that
killing
speed
,
fence
and
hedge
and
double
and
water
all
went
by
him
like
a
dream
,
whirling
underneath
him
as
the
grey
stretched
stomach
to
earth
over
the
level
,
and
rose
to
leap
after
leap
.
For
that
instant
's
pause
,
when
the
stirrup
broke
,
threatened
to
lose
him
the
race
.
He
was
more
than
a
length
behind
the
Regent
,
whose
hoofs
as
they
dashed
the
ground
up
sounded
like
thunder
,
and
for
whose
herculean
strength
the
ploughed
lands
had
no
terrors
;
it
was
more
than
the
lead
to
keep
now
,
there
was
ground
to
cover
,
and
the
King
was
losing
like
Wild
Geranium
.
Cecil
felt
drunk
with
that
strong
keen
west
wind
that
blew
so
strongly
in
his
teeth
,
a
passionate
excitation
was
in
him
,
every
breath
of
winter
air
that
rushed
in
its
bracing
currents
round
him
seemed
to
lash
him
like
a
stripe
:
—
the
Household
to
look
on
and
see
him
beaten
!
Certain
wild
blood
that
lay
latent
in
him
under
the
tranquil
gentleness
of
temper
and
of
custom
woke
and
had
the
mastery
;
he
set
his
teeth
hard
,
and
his
hands
clenched
like
steel
on
the
bridle
.
"
Oh
!
my
beauty
,
my
beauty
!
"
he
cried
,
all
unconsciously
,
half
aloud
,
as
they
cleared
the
thirty-sixth
fence
.
"
Kill
me
if
you
like
,
but
do
n't
fail
me
!
"
As
though
Forest
King
heard
the
prayer
and
answered
it
with
all
his
heart
,
the
splendid
form
launched
faster
out
,
the
stretching
stride
stretched
farther
yet
with
lightning
spontaneity
,
every
fibre
strained
,
every
nerve
struggled
,
with
a
magnificent
bound
like
an
antelope
the
grey
recovered
the
ground
he
had
lost
,
and
passed
Bay
Regent
by
a
quarter-length
.
It
was
a
neck
to
neck
race
once
more
,
across
the
three
meadows
with
the
last
and
lower
fences
that
were
between
them
and
the
final
leap
of
all
;
that
ditch
of
artificial
water
with
the
towering
double
hedge
of
oak
rails
and
of
blackthorn
which
was
reared
black
and
grim
and
well-nigh
hopeless
just
in
front
of
the
Grand
Stand
.
A
roar
like
the
roar
of
the
sea
broke
up
from
the
thronged
course
as
the
crowd
hung
breathless
on
the
even
race
;
ten
thousand
shouts
rang
as
thrice
ten
thousand
eyes
watched
the
closing
contest
,
as
superb
a
sight
as
the
Shires
ever
saw
while
the
two
ran
together
,
the
gigantic
chesnut
,
with
every
massive
sinew
swelled
and
strained
to
tension
,
side
by
side
with
the
marvellous
grace
,
the
shining
flanks
,
and
the
Arab-like
head
of
the
Guards
'
horse
.
Louder
and
wilder
the
shrieked
tumult
rose
:
"
The
chesnut
beats
!
"
"
The
grey
beats
!
"
"
Scarlet
's
