always more or less in evidence, were servants, ostlers, waiting-maids
and always a decidedly large company of men of practically all
professions, ages, and one might almost say nationalities. That is as
nationalities are represented in America, by first and second
generations.

The day I arrived I did not see my prospective host or manager or
trainer for an hour or two after I came, being allowed to wait about
until the very peculiar temperament which he possessed would permit him
to come and see me. When he did show up, a more savage and yet
gentlemanly-looking animal in clothes _de rigueur_ I have never seen. He
was really very princely in build and manner, shapely and grand, like
those portraits that have come down to us of Richelieu and the Duc de
Guise--fawn-colored riding trousers, bright red waistcoat,
black-and-white check riding coat, brown leather riding boots and
leggings with the essential spurs, and a riding quirt. And yet really,
at that moment he reminded me not so much of a man, in his supremely
well-tailored riding costume, as of a tiger or a very ferocious and yet
at times purring cat, beautifully dressed, as in our children's
storybooks, a kind of tiger in collar and boots. He was so lithe,
silent, cat-like in his tread. In his hard, clear, gray animal eyes was
that swift, incisive, restless, searching glance which sometimes
troubles us in the presence of animals. It was hard to believe that he
was all of sixty, as I had been told. He looked the very well-preserved
man of fifty or less. The short trimmed mustache and goatee which he
wore were gray and added to his grand air. His hair, cut a close
pompadour, the ends of his heavy eyebrow hairs turned upward, gave him a
still more distinguished air. He looked very virile, very intelligent,
very indifferent, intolerant and even threatening.

"Well," he exclaimed on sight, "you wish to see me?"

I gave him my name.

"Yes, that's so. Your brother spoke to me about you. Well, take a seat.
You will be looked after."

He walked off, and after an hour or so I was still waiting, for what I
scarcely knew--a room, something to eat possibly, some one to speak a
friendly word to me, but no one did.

While I was waiting in this rather nondescript antechamber, hung with
hats, caps, riding whips and gauntlets, I had an opportunity to study
some of the men with whom presumably I was to live for a number of
weeks. It was between two and three in the afternoon,