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8 for that. I was the third man who knew he had gone lame."

"And what are the odds against him now."

"Oh! nominal; forty to one—what you please."

"He won't run," said Mr. Berners, "John Day told me he had refused to ride him."

"I believe Cockie Graves might win something if Phosphorus came in first," said Lord Milford, laughing.

"How close it is to-night!" said Egremont. "Waiter, give me some Seltzer water ; and open another window; open them all."

At this moment an influx of guests intimated that the assembly at Lady St. Julian’s was broken up. Many at the table rose and yielded their places, clustering round the chimney-piece, or forming in various groups, and discussing the great question. Several of those who had recently entered were votaries of Rat-trap, the favourite, and quite prepared, from all the information that had reached them, to back their opinions valiantly. The conversation had now become general and animated, or