ichard Trevor and
his friend soon found that they were in luck; for in addition to the
regular racing attendants, London had sent down a pleasant assortment of
those sporting gentlemen who used to hang about London Bridge Station on
the morning when an event was to "come off," police permitting, some
forty miles down the line.

In the hurry of climbing up, Pratt had not noticed the occupants of the
vehicle but as soon as they had taken their seats he was for descending
again, and he turned to whisper his wishes to his friend.

"All comes of being in such a plaguy hurry, Frank. Always take
soundings before you come to an anchor. Never mind now, though the
onions are far from agreeable."

The words had hardly left his lips, when a man on his left turned
sharply, and asked why he hadn't ordered his "kerridge," subsiding
afterwards into a growl, in which the word "sweeps" was plainly to be
made out.

This acted as the signal for a little light chaff, and remarks began to
fly about the dress of the friends. Moses Brothers and Whitechapel hags
were mentioned, counter-jumping playfully alluded to, and permissions to
be out for the day; and then a battery of exceedingly foul pipes came
into play, emitting odours resembling anything but those of Araby the
Blest, and driving Frank Pratt to ask his friend, in self-defence, for a
cigar.

"Giv's that there light," said an individual on his right--a gentleman
in velveteen coat, tight trousers, and eyes of so friendly a nature that
they seemed ever seeking each other's society, and trying to burrow
beneath the bridge of their owner's flat nose. He had no whiskers nor
beard, but a great deal of mouth and chin, spotted all over with tiny
black dots. His massive neck was swathed in a great belcher kerchief,
with ample but useful ends; for besides supplying warmth, one was used
occasionally to supply the lack of nutriment, and be nibbled by the
owner's great horse-teeth.

Trevor took the vesuvian from his friend, and politely passed it to the
man, who leered, grinned, stuffed it into his pipe-bowl, holding it
there as he puffed for a few moments, and then, winking at a companion,
he pitched the little incandescent globe upon Pratt's light overcoat.

Pratt started, flushed angrily, and brushed the vesuvian from his coat,
but not until it had burned there a round black spot. But he said
nothing; his face only twitched a little, as he began to make remarks
about the country th