THE MEET OF THE HOUNDS 119 



have for the expenses; there's no margin for 

 paying money-lenders. 



"I've made my calculations. By scraping and 

 screwing, with some money I've hid away, I can 

 just manage to run the colt, pay expenses, and 

 back him for a thousand — and that's all." 



" But, see here. Why not back him for only 

 eight hundred and pay Mr Lewis his two 

 hundred?" 



" Now, there you are," said French. " And 

 that shows you haven't grasped the big thing I'm 

 after. Suppose I pay Lewis his two hundred and 

 only back the colt for eight hundred, do you know 

 what that would make me lose if he starts at, say, 

 fifty to one and wins? I'd lose ten thous- 

 and pounds. It's on the cards that for every 

 hundred pounds I lay on Garry o wen I'll win five 

 thousand." 



" So that if he wins and you have the full 

 thousand on him — ? " 



" I'll win fifty thousand." 



" And if he loses? " 

 Faith, I'll be stripped as naked as Bryan 

 O'Lynn." 



There was a fine sporting flavour in this deal with 

 Fortune that pleased Miss Grimshaw somehow. 



"There is one more thing," said she. "Please ex- 

 cuse me for asking you the question — but — if you 

 lose the thousand it will be all right, I suppose — 

 I mean, you will be able to meet your UabiHties? " 



" Sure, do you take me for a blackleg? Of 



