Next morning when everybody was assembled at breakfast at the Deepdene before another day’s shoot, Lord Bill entered holding a letter in his hand, and after making some jokes about his own prowess with the gun and he feared his merits were not fully appreciated by his friends, said, “Listen to this, the opinion of one of my young friends,” and he read: “DEAR LORD WILLIAM, I have enjoyed to-day very much, I think you shot very well. I noticed you generally killed the birds with the second barrel. Your friend, SPENCER PALMER.” The most successful of Lord William’s horses in 1896 were Diakka, Peveril of the Peak Plate being his greatest triumph; Berzak the Newmarket First Spring Two Year Old Stakes, and in the Clearwell Stakes he ran a dead heat with Goletta, on whom odds were laid. Nonsuch won two small races. [Illustration: LORD WILLIAM--IN OFFICIAL CAPACITY] [Illustration: LORD WILLIAM AND HIS SON BILLY] On February 4th, 1897, a son was born to the William Beresfords; at first he was very delicate, no doubt owing to the anxiety his mother suffered when Lord William had his accident in December, 1896, so small and delicate was he that he was put into an incubator for a short time, fearing a breath might blow him away; now he is a six-footer, so his nursing and care answered. He was named William Warren de la Poer. Both parents were devoted to their child, who was very like his father. When Lord William was driving his wife on the coach and was going rather faster than she liked (she being very nervous) and remonstrating he used to say, “Oh, I thought you would be in a hurry to get back to the boy!” As the baby grew older Lord Marcus used to tease its father by saying, “The child does not know the difference between you and me,” but baby did and always chose to go to Lord William. CHAPTER XV BRINGS TOD SLOAN TO ENGLAND Engagement of Tod Sloan as Jockey--Beresford Family Affection--Caiman Wins Classic Race--Democrat and His Races--A Tip for the “Blues”--Accident to Sloan--His Downfall--Five Years’ Racing and Winnings in Stakes Alone--Volodyovski Bought--At Liverpool When Ambush II Won the Grand National We are now dealing with 1897, when Tod Sloan was introduced to the British public by Lord William, who had been keeping an eye on the lad’s performances in America, observing that in 1895 he had 442 mounts, and won 132 races, in California four races being won in a day. In consequence of this and what he was told of the lad, his lordship sent a cable asking the jockey to come over here as he had some useful horses to be ridden. The years 1897-1898-1899 and 1900 were great for the Beresford stable.