No one grumbled at him because he did so, or thought that such a pursuit was incompatible with his character as a sporting gentleman.

But there were some who considered that they had suffered unduly under his hands, and in their bargains with him had been made to pay more than a proper amount of tax for the advantages of his general assistance.

When a man has perhaps made fifty pounds by using a "straight tip" as to a horse at Newmarket, in doing which he had of course encountered some risks, he feels he ought not to be made to pay the amount back into the pockets of the "tipper," and at the same time to find himself saddled with the possession of a perfectly useless animal.

In this way there were rocks in the course through which Tifto was called on to steer his bark.

Of course he was anxious, when preying upon his acquaintances, to spare those who were useful friends to him.