The Best Fourteen-Hander in England, 211 



there was in the county a fool big enough to do this, seeing that 

 the mare was under his charge with the muzzle set; the key 

 of the stable was in his pocket, and how easy it would be for him 

 to prevent her winning unless he wished it. 



I made up my mind at once how to act. I shook hands with 

 the young man and the trainer, and sat down at the table. After a 

 little chat, I asked the young farmer if he would stand to his word. 

 He said yes. I then laid 30/. on the table to pay the trainer's bill 

 and the stake, took receipts from both parties, and thus added 

 another very ^'^dark one" to my " string," for I had never seen my 

 new purchase, knew nothing about her, and, although I had the 

 receipts in my pocket, the trainer still had possession of the 

 horse — and possession, we all know, is nine points in the law. I 

 knew there was now only one plan to adopt. The trainer was 

 undoubtedly taken aback, but he did not show it. He merely 

 asked me when I would have the mare delivered ; and when I saw 

 him wink at one of the party, whom he told to step out just to 

 find the lad who looked after the mare, I knew it was high time 

 to come to an understanding with him. So I just asked if we 

 could have a few words together, and he directly followed me out 

 into the passage. 



I began by saying that it was very hard upon the young fellow 

 obliging him to part with his mare -, that I had no intention ol 

 trying to win the cup with her now I had bought her, as it would 

 suit my purpose much better to win with the one we had ; and 

 that if I did send her, it would be only to cut out the work for our 

 pony. He entered into a long rigmarole, said that the agreement 

 between him and the young farmer was that his bill was to be paid 

 before ten that night, and unless it was so he was to run the mare 

 as his own. I began to think that there might be something in 

 this, because it seemed so natural that the young farmer should 

 fancy that he would be able to find some friend at the races who 

 would lend him the money. Moreover, the trainer did not bluster 

 at all. He said he was quite willing to give the mare up to me 

 directly, told me plainly that she would be very hard to beat if I 



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