124 GARRYOWEN 



Mead, who was opening a bottle of the blue seal 

 port, an operation which he always conducted 

 with his own hands, listened whilst French poured 

 into his attentive ears the tale of his woes. 



" The blackguards! " said the old man, when 

 French had finished. " And do you mean to say 

 you've gone ofi and left the horse behind you for 

 these chaps to maim, maybe — " 



" Oh, Moriarty is there," repHed French. " He's 

 sleeping in the stable, and Andy is sleeping in the 

 loft. But it's on my mind that some dirty trick 

 will be played before we get the colt to England, 

 and that's why I've called to see you. Look here ; 

 you've got that place for your polo ponies down in 

 SHgo. Will you let me take Garry o wen over there 

 and finish his training — " 



" You mean my stables at Ballyhinton? " 



" Yes." 



" I've sold it. Didn't you know? " 



"Sold it!" 



" Eight months ago! " 



" Good Lord! " said French. " That does me. 

 And I've come all the way to Dubhn to see you 

 about it. Was there ever such luck? " 



" You see," said Mead, " I'm not as young as 

 I was. Bryan, the chap I had there, was swindHng 

 me right and left, so I sold off lock, stock and 

 barrel. I'm sorry." 



" Faith, and so am I," said French. 



The big man for the first time in his Hfe felt 

 knocked out. Never for a moment did he dream 



