‘What the ——­ is the good of that?’ said Dolly from the coach-box.  ‘Take your licking and don’t squeal.’

’That’s all very well.  I can take my licking as well as another man.  But one has to look to the causes of these things.  I never saw Peppermint ride so badly.  Before he got round the corner I wished I’d been on the horse myself.’

‘I don’t believe it was Peppermint’s fault a bit,’ said Silverbridge.

’Well;—­perhaps not.  Only I did think I was a pretty good judge of riding.’  Then Tifto again settled down into silence.

But though much money had been lost, and a great deal of disappointment had to be endured by our party in reference to the Derby, the most injurious and most deplorable event in the day’s history had not occurred yet.  Dinner had been ordered at the Beargarden at seven,—­an hour earlier than would have been named had it not been that Lord Gerald must be at Eastern Counties Railway Station at nine pm.  An hour an half for dinner and a cigar afterwards, and half an hour to get to the railway station would not be more than time enough.

But of all men alive Dolly Longstaff was the most unpunctual.  He did not arrive till eight.  The others were not there before half-past seven, and it was nearly eight before any of them sat down.  At half-past eight Silverbridge began to be very anxious about his brother, and told him that he ought to start without further delay.  A hansom cab was waiting at the door, but Lord Gerald still delayed.  He knew, he said, that the special would not start till half-past nine.  There were a lot of fellows who were dining about everywhere, and they would never get to the station by the hour fixed.  It became apparent to the elder brother that Gerald would stay altogether unless he were forced to go, and at last he did get up and pushed the young fellow out.  ’Drive like the very devil,’ he said to the cabman, explaining to him something of the circumstances.  The cabman did do his best, but a cab cannot be made to travel from the Beargarden, which as all the world knows is close to St James’s Street, to Liverpool Street in the City in ten minutes.  When Lord Gerald reached the station the train had started.

At twenty minutes to ten the young man reappeared at the club.  ‘Why on earth didn’t you take a special for yourself?’ exclaimed Silverbridge.

‘They wouldn’t give me one.’  After it was apparent to all of them that what had just happened had done more to ruffle our hero’s temper than his failure and loss at the races.

‘I wouldn’t have had it to happen for any money you could name,’ said the elder brother to the younger, as he took him home to Carlton Terrace.

‘If they do send me down, what’s the odds?’ said the younger brother, who was not quite as sober as he might have been.

’After what happened to me it will almost break the governor’s heart,’ said the heir.

CHAPTER 18