86 TALES OF THE TURF AND THE CHASE. 



lounge towards the ring as though nothing unusual had occurred. 

 At the same time Ralph Freeman, Esq., shuts up his telescope, 

 and moves off in the same direction ; an example which Tren- 

 holm, shaking himself like a water-dog, immediately follows. 



By this time the excitement in the ring has reached fever- 

 heat. Black Yarnold is fuming and threatening, and his conge- 

 nial jockey is using unlovely language. Mr. Winpenny, who 

 could not make out at first what it all meant, grasps the situa- 

 tion when Sir Thomas Acklam, rather blown with his exertions? 

 enters the weighing-room and orders it to be cleared of all but 

 the reporters and the parties interested in the dispute. Presently 

 Trenholm, also ' scant of breath,' appears, and, after him, at 

 length Mr. Freeman. 



* Now, Sir Thomas,' observed Wrightson, ' will you be good 

 enough to state your objection ?' 



In brief but emphatic terms the baronet told the story of the 

 conspiracy. From information which he had received — here he 

 glanced at Mr. Freeman and Trenholm— he suspected foul play, 

 and Mr. Freeman and he took steps to frustrate it. Knowing 

 that they were likely to be beaten at a distance of six furlongs, 

 the Yarnold party — O, Mr. Yarnold need not bluster, that would 

 not go down at Brackenlea — conspired to shift the stob a fur- 

 long nearer the winning-post. They were allowed to do it ; but 

 they Vy-cre watched. Mr. Freeman saw the post removed and 

 replaced, and so did Mr. Winpenny's butler, Trenholm. The 

 two men who rang the changes were, he believed, in custody. 



It was well for them they were, or the people would have 

 torn the rascals to pieces. As it was. Black Yarnold and his 

 jockey (both of whom were afterwards sentenced to banishment 

 from the Newmarket-regulated turf) did not escape to their hotel 

 without previous immersion in the river and ' sair banes,' to say 

 nothing of injured attire. The Winpenny party were great win- 

 ners by the race, and of course Blanche was presented by her 

 father with that lovely roan mare. 



