Horse laughs

Hearing the Duchess of York's "I'd been drinking" excuse, I was reminded of a Royal Navy captain who said that he would let those brought before him off a charge if they had a unique excuse.

Like when four late returners to his ship in Malta each claimed that the horse pulling their carriage had dropped dead. When faced with the next one, the captain said: "I suppose your horse also suffered a mishap?"

"No," said the sailor, "I couldn't get through for dead horses."

BRIAN CHRISTLEY

Bryn Gwyn

Abergele, Conwy