different character. Whenever six
or eight were talking aloud together, his voice might always be
heard the loudest. Whenever a shout of laughter arose--and that was
incessantly--his shout was always the longest. It seemed that every
bet that was offered was taken by him, and that every bet taken
by any one else had been offered by him. He was always scribbling
something in that well-worn book of his, and yet he never had his
hand away from his tumbler--except when it was on the decanter. All
the waiters came to him for orders, and he seemed perfectly competent
to attend to them. If any man finished his punch and did not fill
again, McKeon reminded him of his duty--and that not only by
preaching, but by continual practice. In fact, he was just in his
element, and enjoying himself.

There was an empty chair next Mr. McKeon, where his friend Mr. Gayner
had been sitting--I won't say during his dinner, for he had not
swallowed a mouthful. He was now standing up against the fireplace,
sucking a lemon. He had a large great coat on, buttoned up to the
neck, and a huge choker round his throat. He was McKeon's jockey, and
was to ride Playful for the forty pounds on the morrow.

Bob Gayner, as he was usually called, was one of the best gentlemen
riders in the country. He came from County Roscommon,--the county, by
the by, which can probably boast the best riders in Ireland,--where
he had a small property of his own, near Athlone; but the chief part
of his time was spent in riding races and training for them. He had
been at it all his life--and certainly, if there be any merit in
the perfection of such an art, Bob was entitled to it, for he rode
beautifully. It was not only that he could put his horse at a fence
without fear, and sit him whilst he was going over it--any man with
practice could do that; but Bob had a sympathy with the animal he was
riding, which enabled him not only to know what he could do himself,
but also what the horse could do. He knew exactly where a horse
wanted assistance from his rider. And he had another knack too, not
unfrequently made use of in steeple-chases--Bob seldom let his own
horse baulk, but he very generally made those that others were riding
do so. And then, at a finish, how admirable was Bob! In leap races
the finish is seldom so near a thing as in flat races; but when it
did come to be neck and neck at the post, there was no man in Ireland
could give a horse a stretch and land him in a wi