fell into a general pleasant chat. I then suggested to Sydney that, if he could be spared for a few minutes, we should walk down to the paddock, to give me an opportunity of relating about my run down to Kelvington and its results.

On our way we met the swaggering form of Flowery Fenton, trying to button-hole the busy Dan Matson; but our flowery friend was sadly changed, and it was evident the pecuniary dissipations of the last Derby had not been entirely surmounted.

His eye caught mine, and turning round, churning up a ghastly smile to hide his evident discomfiture, he came towards me with a diluted bonhommie, but the best he could produce at that moment.

Stroking apart his long, whitened beard, drawing himself up the best he could, slightly increasing the cocking of his hat over the left ear, he began :

"Ah! glad indeed to see you once more, most potent seer. 'Fortuna dat fortibus.' I trust

she has continued her favours, and you your courage to challenge her."

"Thanks, Fenton," I replied, "I cannot complain; I have not often wooed her of late, but to-day she has been most gracious. What have you been doing?"

Badly-loser after loser. Come now, be a good fellow, and let me have a chance of profiting by your inspirations."

"What says the great Dan Matson?" I retorted. "Surely a worshipper at his shrine should be prosperous."

"Not much, you may be sure; but I think he fancies Aurelius' for the Leger; he is a greatly improved colt, and your favourite 'Compton' will have to do all he knows to give him a licking the next time they meet. By the way, it is said that your stable has something in the shape of a two-year-old to astonish us with ere long."

"Indeed," said I; you hear about it?

come away from

"and pray what do

They say one must home to learn the

news.

What is the name of this supposed

wonder?"

"Come now, friend Whitebelt," replied Fenton; "what a hypocrite you pretend to be! Sir Jolliby Sanger told me, and I think he said it was a colt by The Seer.""

"Time enough to think about it when he gets into condition," I answered (acknowledging a slight pressure on the arm from Sydney); "but what is going to win this next

race ? "

"Let us see, what is it? Oh! the rich Sandwich Stakes. Well, I should fancy the favourite, Lord Torbay's Minstrel'; he will be backed against the field.”

When it was over, an outsider came romping in, and Flowery Fenton looked more gloomy than ever; turning on his heel, he smiled a sickly smile, and, bidding good-day, disappeared disconsolately in the throng.

Returning to the enclosure, after glancing over the horses walking about the paddock, I told Marshall about the colt, and the name I

had given him, with which he was pleased, and left him to rejoin his party.

The remaining three days soon passed away, and I came back to London on the Friday evening, well satisfied with the week's work.

CHAPTER XIX.

A VISIT TO THE KENNELS.

THE London season was over; Parliament was up, and the Members wandering over the face of the earth, from the North Pole to the Antipodes, from America to India, some yachting, some fishing, some shooting, all seeking health, pleasure, and relaxation. There was no one left within the confines of modern Babylon, for it is generally understood that the odd millions compelled to remain do not weigh the balance against "the Upper Ten" and the prosperous middle class.

I had been asked to Scotland for a little fishing and grouse-shooting, but reluctantly decided to be nearer the metropolis, and went down to stay a few days with an old hunting friend in one of the Midland Counties. One morning, shortly before it was time to have a