THE RETURN MA TCH. 8 1 



for the Grcystonc. A shady lot, Trenholm — a very, very shady 

 lot. But that is no concern of ours. We get 'em of all sorts 

 racing, and it is not our business to complain, so long as we 

 conduct the business of the meeting to the satisfaction of the 

 stewards, and avoid objections. Like to look at the card ? What 

 do you think of that .? Reads almost as well as a York 

 Autumn, eh ?' 



' It does indeed, Mr. Wrightson. Rather a weak entry for 

 the Cup, though ; but the Greystone will make up for it.' 



' Just what I say, Trenholm. Thanks to Crowfoot and 

 Slider coming together again so soon after the Ruddyford meet- 

 ing, the Redmarshall folk will not suffer to-morrow for lack of 

 excitement. You see, that three pounds penalty will make it 

 more of a match. There is nothing else in the race that can 

 stretch their necks, as far as / can see. Are you off? Well, 

 give my compliments to your master and Sir Thomas Acklam, 

 and — you can show them this rough proof of the card — tell 

 them that there is every prospect of a rattling good meeting. 

 Mind the step ; and be careful of yourself along the Elton-road. 

 Ha, ha ! Mr. Yarnold and Company — I suppose you know they 

 call him Black Yarnold, not without good and sufficient reason, 

 I'll be bound. As I was saying, Mr. Yarnold and Company 

 have gone in the same direction. Slider and their other horses 

 are at Tanner's place, which, as you know, is half-way between 

 the town-end and the Hurst. Ah, it's a fine night, but there are 

 some ragged clouds about the moon that mean mischief. Well, 

 we can do with a shower ; it will improve the going. Good- 

 night, Trenholm.' 



Responding to the benison of the garrulous officiar with 

 another, Trenholm set out at a brisk pace homewards. He had 

 no desire for a wetting ; and there was a freshness in the air 

 which pointed to an early realisation of Wrightson's forecast. He 

 had accomplished about three-quarters of a mile of his journey 

 when the moon, whose sectional appearances in rifts of clouds of 

 increased density had latterly become rarer, retired entirely from 

 view, and, after a few warning drops, the rain came down in 

 drenching earnest. Trenholm knew every yard of the road. 

 The shower had caught him within a dozen paces of a gate that 

 opened into one of his master's fields. Clambering over with 

 surprising agility for a man of his weight, he sought the partial 

 shelter of a convenient hayrick, and waited with philosophical 

 patience for the shower to cease. 



