nk, my Lord Duke, that
any one you may ask will tell you that I know what running is.
Well;--I can assure you,--your Grace, that is,--that since I've seen
'orses I've never seen a 'orse fitter than him. When he got his
canter that morning, it was nearly even betting. Not that I or
Silverbridge were fools enough to put on anything at that rate. But
I never saw a 'orse so bad ridden. I don't mean to say anything, my
Lord Duke, against the man. But if that fellow hadn't been squared,
or else wasn't drunk, or else wasn't off his head, that 'orse must
have won,--my Lord Duke."

"I do not know anything about racing, Major Tifto."

"I suppose not, your Grace. But as I and Silverbridge are together in
this matter I thought I'd just let your Grace know that we ought to
have had a very good thing. I thought that perhaps your Grace might
like to know that."

"Tifto, you are making an ass of yourself," said Silverbridge.

"Making an ass of myself!" exclaimed the Major.

"Yes;--considerably."

"I think you are a little hard upon your friend," said the Duke, with
an attempt at a laugh. "It is not to be supposed that he should know
how utterly indifferent I am to everything connected with the turf."

"I thought, my Lord Duke, you might care about learning how
Silverbridge was going on." This the poor little man said almost with
a whine. His partner's roughness had knocked out of him nearly all
the courage which Bacchus had given him.

"So I do; anything that interests him, interests me. But perhaps of
all his pursuits racing is the one to which I am least able to lend
an attentive ear. That every horse has a head, and that all did have
tails till they were ill-used, is the extent of my stable knowledge."

"Very good indeed, my Lord Duke; very good indeed! Ha, ha, ha!--all
horses have heads, and all have tails! Heads and tails. Upon my word
that is the best thing I have heard for a long time. I will do myself
the honour of wishing your Grace good-night. By-bye, Silverbridge."
Then he left the room, having been made supremely happy by what
he considered to have been the Duke's joke. Nevertheless he would
remember the snubbing and would be even with Silverbridge some day.
Did Lord Silverbridge think that he was going to look after his
Lordship's 'orses, and do this always on the square, and then be
snubbed for doing it!

"I am very sorry that he should have come in to trouble you," said
the son.

"He has not troubled me mu