CHAPTER XV.

PERSONAL HABITS OF LORD GEORGE BENTINCK.

LORD GEORGE BENTINCK was the beau idéal of an English nobleman. He stood over six feet in height; his figure was, beyond that of any other man of my acquaintance, stately and elegant; his features were extremely handsome and refined, his hands and feet small and beautifully shaped, and his whole appearance most commanding. He was invariably dressed in a long black frock-coat, a black or very dark blue, double-breasted, velvet waistcoat, and dark trousers, having (in the fashion of that day) straps attached, which passed under his boots. Over his waistcoat he wore a fine, long, gold chain, which went round his neck, and was clasped together on his breast by a gold loop, in which was set a large and very conspicuous turquoise, which I always regarded as symbolising his sky-blue racing jacket. racing jacket. Round his neck he

wore a costly cream-coloured satin scarf of great

length, knotted under his chin, and with a gold

pin stuck in it. This gold pin (he had two or more of them) contained either a big ruby or a pearl. On his head he invariably wore a tall, new, beaver hat. In this costume, including frock-coat and tall hat, Lord George was always dressed when he went round the stables at Goodwood, or proceeded to the exercise-grounds on foot to see his horses gallop. On the race-course he usually wore a green cutaway coat, buckskin breeches, and topboots. I must revert for a moment to his scarfs, in order to say that, although they cost nearly a pound apiece, nothing would induce him to wear them more than once. They were then put away, and many drawers were full of them when he died. After his death I purchased from Gardner, his valet, the scarf which he had on when his body was found, and half-a-dozen others, which I still keep as mementoes of my honoured master.

Lord George was never known to suffer any of those whom he employed as commissioners to take the slightest liberty with him. In speaking with them he never laughed, and his look, when serious, was somewhat stern. He never sat down, or permitted them to sit down, in his presence, but would stand before the fireplace while talking to them, with the palms of his hands planted just behind his hips. I have heard two of his most trusted commissioners say that, without asking questions or pumping them in any way, Lord George always elicited from them all the racing information that

they knew. In Coronation's year Lord George had a large round book on the Derby, and was at all times prepared to lay £10,000 to £200 against any outsiders, not in John Scott's or John Day's stables, whose name he heard for the first time. One day, at Tattersall's, Isaac Day asked his Lordship to lay him £10,000 to £200 against a Sir Hercules colt, born in 1838, the year of her Majesty's Coronation, from which event he took his name. This colt was trained in a small private stable. Before Lord George could lay the bet he was touched on the elbow by Mr Joseph Bond, whom he often employed to do commissions for him. Bond shook his head, and the bet was not laid. Having thus escaped being caught for the long odds, Lord George never laid against Coronation at all, and won his whole book. The only explanation that he subsequently vouchsafed to his friends was, “I followed Mr Bond," to the great gratification of the latter.

Mr

To me his Lordship was always very unreserved and communicative, as he knew from experience that I should never abuse his confidence. My positive instructions were never to come to London without seeing him, let the hour be what it might. Frequently I arrived at Harcourt House very early in the morning by the mail train, and the hallporter would immediately call his Lordship's valet to announce my advent. Lord George would summon me without a moment's delay to his bedside,

and after I had talked to him for one or two hours, would order breakfast to be prepared for me before I left. At that early hour it often took so much time to provide this meal that I was scarcely able to do justice to it, although I felt bound to eat as much as I could, as his Lordship would invariably inquire of me before we parted whether I had enjoyed my breakfast. I often begged him to allow me to get what little I wanted at some refreshment room, but to this he would never consent.

When I arrived in London late in the evening, Lord George was often at the House of Commons, or at White's Club at dinner. Wherever he might be, it was my duty to find him with the least possible delay; and if not at White's Club, I sometimes remained there, hearing that he was expected at eleven o'clock, as he had ordered dinner then. He would keep me talking till long after midnight; and upon one occasion desired me to meet him next week at the Winchester station, upon the arrival of the first train from London, about 11 A.M., which necessitated my leaving home about 5 A.M. to post to Fareham (a distance of twenty-two miles) to catch the train for Winchester. Thence we posted to Danebury paddocks, to inspect the stud previous to the closing of the stakes on that day (the 1st of January). After minutely inspecting the stud, Lord George found that it had not occupied as much time as he

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expected, and said he thought we had better go straight back to London, instead of proceeding to Winchester to dine, as he had arranged, having ordered dinner at the George Hotel. Arriving in London at Nine Elms station about 7.30 P.M., his Lordship, being unable to find his luggage as quickly as he wished, said, "I will drive on to Harcourt House to order you some dinner, if will get another cab and bring my luggage with you." When I got to Harcourt House about 9 P.M., Mrs Jones, the housekeeper, came to inquire what I would like for dinner, as his Lordship had desired her to provide the best she was able, and to get fish, game-in fact, whatever I could enjoy. My reply was, "A mutton - chop with some tea, if you please," as I had had nothing since five o'clock that morning. "I must provide more than that, or I feel sure his Lordship will not be satisfied," exclaimed Mrs Jones. Feeling faint and tired, I was not in a mood to wait long, and was therefore allowed to have what I asked for without delay. As I was eating, Gardner, his Lordship's valet, came to me and desired me, when I had dined, to go to White's Club, where I found Lord George at dinner about eleven o'clock. "I hope you enjoyed your meal? What did Mrs Jones get for you?" were his first questions. I told him that I had had a mutton-chop and some tea. "Is that all she provided for you!" he answered. stated that I preferred it to anything else, as it

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