The fact was that Lord Chiltern at this moment had no interest of his own in any horse upon the turf.
But all the world knew that he drank.

He had taken by the throat a proctor's bull-dog when he had been drunk at Oxford, had nearly strangled the man, and had been expelled.

He had fallen through his violence into some terrible misfortune at Paris, had been brought before a public judge, and his name and his infamy had been made notorious in every newspaper in the two capitals.

After that he had fought a ruffian at Newmarket, and had really killed him with his fists.

In reference to this latter affray it had been proved that the attack had been made on him, that he had not been to blame, and that he had not been drunk.