CONTENTS CHAPTER I EARLY DAYS PAGE Early Childhood--Eton Days--Mischief and Whackings--Companions at Work and Play--Sporting Contemporaries of Note--The So-styled “Mad Marquis”--His Bride--Carriage Accident--Ride in Grand National--House of Commons Acknowledgment of Lady Waterford’s Goodness to the Irish during the Famine--Joins the 9th Lancers in Dublin--A Few Sporting Mishaps--Why he Spent his Life in India 1 CHAPTER II GOOD-BYE TO ENGLAND Coach-driving Exploit--The Badger Bet and How It was Won--The Raleigh Club and the Garçon Glacé Episode--Some Merry Frequenters of the Club--Regimental Racing--The Tenth Hussars’ Steeplechases, Exciting Race Between H.R.H.’s Horse and Lord Valentia’s--Aldershot Coaching Accident--Polo at Woolwich--Sale of 10th Hussars’ ponies--Friendly Altercations at York--The Three Brothers’ Race--Au Revoir to Merry England 24 CHAPTER III JOINS VICEROY’S STAFF What he Might Have Been--A Happy Exile--Lumtiddy Hall--Unsuccessful Journey to Pay Calls--Appointed to Staff of Retiring Viceroy--First Summer at Simla--Appointed A.D.C. to Lord Lytton--Annandale Racecourse--Birth of _The Asian_--Dinner to Its Sporting Owner--Winner of Viceroy’s Cup--Delhi Durbar, 1887--Mighty Preparations--A Terrible Accident 46 CHAPTER IV HE WINS THE V.C. Hero of Khartoum’s Fame and Tragedy, as Private Secretary--Indian Famine--Lord William and the Jowakis--A Month’s Holiday in Afghanistan--Back in Calcutta--Barrackpore Monument to Lady Canning--Lady Waterford as Artist--Cawnpore Memorial--Racing--Trouble in South Africa--A Favour Granted--Off to the War--A Friend Left in Charge of Affairs--Some Fights for Queen and Country--Some Fights for Private Reasons--Exciting Moments--Irish Bravery of Man and Beast--Two V.C.’s at Dinner--Receives Reward at Hands of the Queen-Empress--A Shower Bath in Dublin--Some Racing and a Row--A Thrice-run Race--Miller Addresses Lord William 65 CHAPTER V THE VICEROY RETIRES Change of Government and What it Meant--Why it Took Place at Simla--The Ceremony--An Anxious Moment--A General Stampede--Retirement of Lord Lytton--Work of Which Viceroy?--Lord William’s Services Valued--A Bet Between Him and the Author--Lord William’s 10 to 1 96 CHAPTER VI AN IDEAL MILITARY SECRETARY