15 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Three weeks have elapsed, both jockeys have entered 

 thoroughly into the spirit of the race, and it is 

 noticeable that they both look much lighter, healthier, 

 and younger for their training, for when, I ask, does a 

 man feel better than when he has put himself in strict 

 training for a few weeks. It is true that both Oldwig 

 and Winebold have ever since secretly regretted the 

 match made after dinner, and were they the only parties 

 concerned, it is a certainty that it would never have 

 been decided, but, as the reader knows, there are other 

 interested parties who have staked their money, a vast 

 amount of trouble has been taken on all sides, the line 

 of country has been chosen, and the meeting to a certain 

 extent has become known, so that it is out of the ques- 

 tion for them to withdraw. 



The opponents are on the best of terms. It was 

 only when they met in the market town yesterday that 

 Oldwig was saying that he had that morning, whilst 

 turning out some clothes in his wardrobe, come across 

 his old racing colours, which he had donned, disporting 

 himself before his cheval-glass, much to his own gratifi- 

 cation and his wife's displeasure. Winebold retorted 

 by saying that Sulphur was in wonderful condition, and 

 the only fault he could find was that she gallops too fast 

 and jumps too big. 



As we have already hinted, Mrs. Oldwig is a power in 

 the house in which she dwells. Oldwig up to the 



