I remember seeing Lord William get some shocking falls, and once when he was driving nine ponies and riding one over the jumps, when it came to turning the awkward corner already mentioned, one of the leaders, he drove three abreast, took it into its head the stone wall was there to be jumped, and while it was hanging suspended over the awful drop at the other side of the wall, which would probably have meant a broken back, Lord William and the rest of what he called his “10 to 1” were hopelessly mixed up on the safer side, looking as if they had all jumped on each other. His lordship was extricated with nothing worse than a dislocated shoulder and thumb. He laughed immoderately, though he was ashy white. He insisted on having his shoulder put right at once. A chair was brought and placed on the course upon which he sat while his shoulder was jumped and bumped into its place again, also his thumb attended to and tied up. It was with some difficulty he was prevented from trying again, only being stopped by a brother A.D.C. swearing he had sent some of the ponies home, as they had apparently had enough even if Lord William had not. CHAPTER VI AN IDEAL MILITARY SECRETARY Dignity and Humour--Some Tests of Both--Affection of the Natives for Lord William--How They Tried to Please him--What Happened on a Slippery Floor--Some Tableaux--A Supper and a Race--What the Jockey Club Would Have Said--Lord Ripon’s Message to the Amir of Afghanistan--The Amir’s Reply--The Work of the Military Secretary--Swelled Heads and Outgrown Shoes--How Lord William Dealt with Them--Pay of Military Secretary--Compensation for Diminishing Rupee--No Fish to Fry Those who knew Lord William will think I have passed over a very marked feature in his life, namely, his smartness at repartee and his endless jokes. I have forgotten neither, nor have I ceased to be grateful for the way he succeeded in brightening up the dullest parties; he carried sunshine and merriment with him wherever he went, and it was infectious. No matter how awkward a position he might find himself in, he always came out gracefully and smiling. I feel that to repeat Lord William’s jokes, is to rob them of their atmosphere and merit. Jokes are individual things, and require such delicate handling, they must have their own surroundings and atmosphere; it is so easy to rob them of their bloom or kill them altogether. Lord William was one of those rare people who found it possible to be serious in a funny way, which was no doubt an asset, though at times disconcerting for other people, as will be seen from the following narrative: