Even that
deserted him before a heart which he knew at least could yield him
sympathy. He gave a sort of superb groan:
"'All my life I have been trying for this, and for what have I
sacrificed it?' he murmured.
"It was in vain to offer solace.'
"'You do not know what the Derby is,' he moaned out.
"'Yes I do, it is the blue ribbon of the turf.'
"'It is the blue ribbon of the turf,' he slowly repeated to himself, and
sitting down at the table he buried himself in a folio of statistics."
In a personal allusion to the arduous political labours of Lord George
Bentinck, Disraeli says: "What was not his least remarkable trait, is
that although he only breakfasted on dry toast, he took no sustenance
all this time, dining at White's at half-past two o'clock in the
morning. After his severe attack of influenza he broke through this
habit a little during the last few months of his life, moved by the
advice of his physician and the instance of his friends. The writer of
these observations prevailed upon him a little the last year to fall
into the easy habit of dining at Bellamy's, which saves much time and
permits the transaction of business in conversation with a congenial
friend.
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