CHAPTER XVII.
The Derby An attendance at the Newmarket Second Spring Meeting had unfortunately not been compatible with the Silverbridge election.
Major Tifto had therefore been obliged to look after the affair alone.

"A very useful mare," as Tifto had been in the habit of calling a leggy, thoroughbred, meagre-looking brute named Coalition, was on this occasion confided to the Major's sole care and judgment.
But Coalition failed, as coalitions always do, and Tifto had to report to his noble patron that they had not pulled off the event.
It had been a match for four hundred pounds, made indeed by Lord Silverbridge, but made at the suggestion of Tifto;--and now Tifto wrote in a very bad humour about it.

It had been altogether his Lordship's fault in submitting to carry two pounds more than Tifto had thought to be fair and equitable.

The match had been lost.

Would Lord Silverbridge be so good as to pay the money to Mr.Green Griffin and debit him, Tifto, with the share of his loss?
We must acknowledge that the unpleasant tone of the Major's letter was due quite as much to the ill-usage he had received in reference to that journey to Silverbridge, as to the loss of the race.