15. His services can on no occasion be dispensed with during the first five days of the voyage; he will therefore be expected to keep in good health, and can on no pretext be allowed to call for the services of the steward.
16. At Aden the A.D.C. in waiting will be relieved from duty.
(Signed) WILLIAM BERESFORD, Lieut.-Col., Military Secretary to the Viceroy.
The A.D.C. in question, of course, knew Lord Bill’s little ways, how much was earnest and how much fun, and appreciated the thoughtful concession of allowing a chin strap and waterproof to be used during rough weather, for more reasons than one.
It was shortly before the Dufferins left India that Lord William and five other members of the Viceroy’s staff in one of their lighter moments when dressed in their racing kit, jumped into a merry-go-round for a ride and were snapshotted. Lord William is on the extreme right sitting sideways; next to him in front is Capt. Roddy Owen; standing up in the striped jacket is Capt. Burn, generally known as “Handsome Charlie”; then comes Capt. Harbord (now Lord Suffield) riding a finish; behind him Capt. Leonard Gordon and Capt. H. Legge. A light-hearted little party, overflowing with good humour and health, much of which was the result of the amount of exercise they were in the habit of taking. Sportsmen and those of an energetic tendency keep their health much longer when in India than their brethren who resign themselves to the climate with books, eating, drinking, and sleep, the latter being the natural consequence of the former.
[Illustration: THE VICEROY’S STAFF IN LIGHTER MOMENTS]
Feeling a little holiday would be beneficial Lord William went home in April on three months’ leave, his string of forty odd horses remaining at Dehra Doon in the pleasant cool shade of its many fine trees, but before leaving he attended the March Umballa Meeting, when his Treasure won two races, the Service Stakes 900 rupees, Capt. Macdougall riding, and the open Pony Race 850 rupees, Dunn riding; Eunice the Paget Park Plate 300 rupees, Melbourne Plate with Myall King 200 rupees, Dunn riding.
On Leave--At the Derby Once More--Lord Lansdowne Takes Office--Conjurer’s Discomfort--A Gentle Reproach--Irishmen in India--Another Racing Partnership--A Turf Club Inquiry--Paperchasers--A Telegram from Lucknow--Lord William’s Health--Jockey in Trouble Again
