He lilted on his way.
By noon the Paddock was filling, and the Carriage Enclosure becoming packed.
People began to blacken the railway embankment, to gather in knots all round the course at likely places, to line the Canal.
In the crowd you could hear the dialects of every county in England mingling with accents of the young countries beyond the seas.
At noon the Duke and his party crossed the Paddock.
"You won't join us, Mat?" he called. "I've got a saloon on the Embankment."
"No, sir, thank you," said the old man. "Mat's corner in the Grand Stand'll find me at home as usual come three o'clock."
The Duke paused. He was still hunting the trail.
"If you see Boy before the race, tell her we'll be glad if she cares to join us."