8o TALES OF THE TURF AND THE CHASE. 



Taking advantage of a discussion which appeared to mono- 

 polise everybody's attention at the table except Mr. Winpenny's, 

 Trenholm approached that gentleman, and in a whispered 

 ' aside' urged the necessity of an immediate expedition to ' the 

 town.' 



* Certainly, Trenholm. I am glad you have mentioned it. 

 Send Bates at once ; or, stay, perhaps you had better go 

 yourself. Ring for him ; he will take your place. We can 

 manage, I think. And if you hear any news from Wrightson, 

 let me know. We shall be in the billiard-room when you 

 return. Don't remain- away longer than is necessary.' 



Trenholm assured his master that he would use all expedi- 

 tion ; and, leaving Bates in charge, devoted five minutes to a 

 consultation with the cook, and then set out for the town. 



His interview with Featherstone was brief but decisive. If 

 there were any speculation on the Greystone Plate, as well as 

 on the Cup, that night, let him get as much on Crowfoot as 

 possible at a good price, but he was not to speak if there 

 appeared the least danger of spoiling the market. The Slider 

 party might be shy. Anyhow he was to put the money down 

 without flinching at the post, no matter what the price was ; 

 and he (Trenholm) would go as far as fifty. There were the 

 notes. 



' O, there is no occasion for that, Mr. Trenholm,' observed the 

 commissioner, with a gentle air of deprecation, accepting the 

 sheaf of rustling paper nevertheless. ' We understand each 

 other. You are not going to run away.' 



' Never mind. There is nothing like a clear understanding 

 in these matters. By the bye, about those birds ? I promised 

 the Squire I would mention them.' 



' Don't fash yourself, Mr. Trenholm. My man must have 

 been at the Hurst a quarter of an hour after you left. You 

 will find that Mrs. Robinson has got them trussed by the time 

 you get home. But you are not going off like that, surely ?' 



Trenholm was not. After refreshing, as suggested, he bade 

 Featherstone good-night, and repaired to Wrightson's. 



He found that zealous clerk of the course in consultation 

 with the printer of the morrow's card. 



' Ah, come in, Trenholm. Take a seat. There — throw those 

 newspapers on to- the floor. We were just mentioning your name 

 — or rather your master's — before you came in. Mr. Yarnold 

 and several of his friends have been here looking at the entry 



