| 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 | |
| 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 | 112 |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| SOME RACING EXPERIENCES | |
| First Racing Partnership—Some Successful Horses—The “White Mutiny”—Military Secretaries Come and Go—Fleur-de-Lys’ Affection—Racing—Paperchasing—An Exciting Drive—Ponto’s Admiration for the Fair Sex—Inverarm—How a Sick Soldier Fared—Love of Children—A Children’s Party and How it Ended—The Home for Lost Dogs—Simla Gymkhanas—A Sore Head—A Change of Mounts—Sipi Fair and Marriage Market—What Some of Lord William’s Friends Said—Why he was like King Solomon | 132 |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| LORD RIPON LEAVES INDIA | |
| Arrangements for Entertaining Visitors—Lord de Grey’s Shooting—A Good-looking Staff—A Fancy Ball—The Baby cries—Lord William Feeds the Infant—Singing Quadrilles—Pig-sticking—The Tent Club and Its Members—A Case of Mistaken Identity—The Reputation Match—Lord William Resolves to Give Up Racing—Lord Ripon’s Farewell | 153 |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| LORD DUFFERIN’S VICEROYALTY | |
| Lord Dufferin succeeds Lord Ripon as Viceroy—Durbar at Rawal Pindi to Meet the Amir of Afghanistan—A Few Annoyances—How it All Ended—Some Presents—Outline of a Viceroy’s Tour—A Nasty Fall—Sale of Confederacy Horses—“Father Time”—Parlour Fireworks—A Ride to the Pyramids—Unostentatious Charity—Some Impositions | 177 |
| CHAPTER X | |
| DEAR LONDON AGAIN | |
| The Man Who Thought He Was King—A Dance After Dinner—How It Ended—Corney Grain in Disgrace on the Door-mat—Racing—Trouble in Burmah—Lord Dufferin and Lord William Go There—Collecting the Offertory in Church—Some Schemes of Interest | 196 |
| CHAPTER XI | |
| SOME SPORTING MEMORIES | |
| Lord William’s Driving—One or Two Experiences—A Sermon in the Smoking-room—Useful Shirt Cuffs—Convenient Handwriting—New Year’s Parade—A Waiting Race—A Spoilt Meeting—Purchase of Myall King—Dufferins Leave India—Rules Issued by Lord William for Their Departure | 214 |
| CHAPTER XII | |
| A WINNING YEAR | |
| 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 | 233 |
| CHAPTER XIII | |
| THE FAMOUS FAREWELL DINNER | |
| Why the Maharajah of Durbangah Gave up Racing—The Maharajah of Patiala Joins the Stable—The Indian Lotteries—Some Successful Racing—Lord Bill Pays Up—Simla Feeling Sad—Death of Myall King—Some of His Chief Races—Farewell Dinner—List of Guests—Speeches | 250 |
| CHAPTER XIV | |
| HIS MARRIAGE | |
| First Visit to the Deepdene—Finds a Relation in His Bedroom—Engagement to be Married Announced—School Treats—One New Year’s Morning—King Edward VII Visits the Deepdene When Prince of Wales—A Narrow Escape—“Tommy, Where Are You?”—Why Lord William wore a Turban—Fast Trotters and Their Doings—Mishap on the Way to the Derby—Racing in England—Racing Geography—Another Racing Partnership—Accident While Hunting—Mr. Palmer to the Rescue—Lord William Tells a Story Against Himself—A Son Born | 283 |
| 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 | 299 |
| CHAPTER XVI | |
| LAST YEARS | |
| “1900 ... and Feels It”—Affection for the 9th Lancers—Help for a Brother Mason—Those Who Loved Him—Friends, not Sight-Seers—A Treasured Gift—Sale of Horses at Newmarket—Purchasers and Prices—Fate of Democrat—Volodyovski Wins the Derby—Too Late—Fierce Ownership Dispute—The Law Settles It—Broken Head of a small Beresford | 315 |