d at the new ground the pace has told its tale,
for half a dozen are already out of the race.

The summit is gained; the tactics alter: here Pavis brings up Caravan,
with extraordinary severity,--the pace round Tattenham corner terrific;
Caravan leading, then Phosphorus a little above him, Mahometan next,
Hybiscus fourth. Rat-trap looking badly, Wisdom, Benedict and another
handy. By this time Pocket Hercules has enough, and at the road the
tailing grows at every stride. Here the favourite himself is hors de
combat, as well as Dardanelles, and a crowd of lesser celebrities.

There are now but four left in the race, and of these, two, Hybiscus
and Mahometan, are some lengths behind. Now it is neck and neck between
Caravan and Phosphorus. At the stand Caravan has decidedly the best,
but just at the post, Edwards, on Phosphorus, lifts the gallant little
horse, and with an extraordinary effort contrives to shove him in by
half a length.

"You look a little low, Charley," said Lord Fitzheron, as taking their
lunch in their drag he poured the champagne into the glass of Egremont.

"By Jove!" said Lord Milford, "Only think of Cockie Graves having gone
and done it!"

Book 1 Chapter 3

Egremont was the younger brother of an English earl, whose nobility
being of nearly three centuries' date, ranked him among our high and
ancient peers, although its origin was more memorable than illustrious.
The founder of the family had been a confidential domestic of one of the
favourites of Henry the Eighth, and had contrived to be appointed one
of the commissioners for "visiting and taking the surrenders of divers
religious houses." It came to pass that divers of these religious houses
surrendered themselves eventually to the use and benefit of honest
Baldwin Greymount. The king was touched with the activity and zeal
of his commissioner. Not one of them whose reports were so ample and
satisfactory, who could baffle a wily prior with more dexterity, or
control a proud abbot with more firmness. Nor were they well-digested
reports alone that were transmitted to the sovereign: they came
accompanied with many rare and curious articles, grateful to the taste
of one who was not only a religious reformer but a dilettante; golden
candlesticks and costly chalices; sometimes a jewelled pix; fantastic
spoons and patens, rings for the fingers and the ear; occasionally a
fair-written and blazoned manuscript--suitable offering to the royal