The English Spy, page 288 by Bernard Blackmantle
<< Return to Title Details & Download289
tears out his last check, turns upon his heel, whistles a tune, and sets against the gross amount of his losses another mortgage of ~330~~the family acres, or a post obit upon some expectancy: the regular sporting man, the out and outer, turns to his book--
'For there he finds, no matter who has won,{1} Whichever animal, or mare, or colt; Nay, though each horse that started for't should bolt, Or all at once fall lame, or die, or stray, He yet must pocket hundreds by the day.'"
Two or three amusing scenes took place among those who wanted, and those who had nothing to give, but yet were too honourable to levant: many exhibited outward and visible signs of inward grief. A man of metal dropped his last sovereign with a sigh, but chafed a little about false reports of chaunting up a losing horse, doing the thing neatly, keeping the secret, and other such like delicate innuendoes, which among sporting men pass current, provided the losers pay promptly. Several, who had gone beyond their depth, were recommended to the consideration of the humane, in hopes that time might yet bring them about. We had now passed more than two hours among the motley group, when Tom, having exchanged the time o'day with most of his sporting friends, proposed an adjournment to Fishmongers' Hall, or, as he prefaced it, with a visit to the New Club in St. James's-street; to which resort of Greeks and gudgeons we immediately proceeded.
[Illustration: page331]
We had just turned the corner of St. James's-street, and were preparing to ascend the steps which lead to the New Club, as Crockford's establishment is termed, when old Crony accosted me.
1 To all but betting men, this must appear impossible; but management is every thing; and with a knowledge of the secret, according to turf logic, it is one hundred to one against calculation, and, by turf mathematics, five hundred to one against any event coming right upon the sq