They were all smoking, and all talking.

It was easy to see that they did not consider themselves the least among those who were gathered together on this occasion.

The carriage was immediately surrounded by grooms and horses, and the ceremony of disencumbering themselves of great coats and aprons, of putting on spurs and fastening hat-strings was commenced.

Then there were whispered communications from the grooms, and long faces under some of the hats.

This horse hadn't been fit since last Monday's run, and that man's hack wasn't as it should be.