CHAPTER III.--_CACKLE_ V. _'OSSES. THE FAVOURITE WINS._ And now Sir JOHN and his considerate circle had come to England, and were close to Liverpool. "My dear people," said HENRI, "never mind your love-making, never mind your plot, leave it to AUGUSTE, and he will pull you through." And HENRI was quite right. AUGUSTE went to work with a will, and did pull them through. He took them to the Grand National Steeple Chace, and showed them and all the world a sight the like of which they had never seen before. There were real horses, real touts, and a real winner. Oh, how it went! It was magnificent! And, before this great race, AUGUSTE (helped by HENRI this time) showed a training-stable, and how a favourite can be nobbled. It didn't in the least matter why it was done, or where it was done. It was a lovely sight to see somebody or other giving the wrong horse beans. And the horse liked them, and eat them with a zest, and felt none the worse for them. On the contrary, the beans seemed to give the creature sufficient vigour to carry on the running until Christmas at Drury Lane, with a trot to Covent Garden to follow, and then back again, perhaps to the old quarters, up to Easter. [Illustration: Oss-tentation; or, "Giving him Beans."] "Ah, that will make all things right!" cried AUGUSTE. "_Voluptuary_ will carry the whole of us--Authors, Managers, and Actors--to victory!" And he was right--_Voluptuary_ did carry them to success--a gigantic one. CHAPTER IV.--_THE MEANS JUSTIFY THE END._ And Sir JOHN and his considerate circle acted up to their principles to the very end. "ROSE, come to my arms!" said he, to his child; "you have been prodigal enough, it is now time for your reformation and conciliation." "Then may we marry?" asked the Hon. JULIAN. "Certainly!" was the reply. And the other couples were also satisfactorily accounted for. "Are you contented?" asked Sir JOHN, of AUGUSTE and HENRI. "How does it end?" was the answer, taking the shape of a question. "Happily for all. Not only for us, but for you and the Public generally." And AUGUSTE, HENRI, _Box_ and _Cox_, and in fact everybody who was anybody, were satisfied. As indeed they should be. * * * * * NOTICE.--Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule there will be no exception.