SIR digby's visit. 43 



" Egad !" repeated he, and his eyes rested with the profoimdest 

 admiration on my form, as I stood stripped before him ; " but 

 he's a fine, strapping colt !" 



"And a racing-colt, or I'm much mistaken," replied our 

 trainer, in a decided tone and manner. 



" That you never are," rejoined the baronet, languidly, but 

 still keeping his gaze fixed on me. 



John Sellusall raised a straightened forefinger towards the 

 brim of his hat in acknowledgment of the compliment ; but I 

 remarked, at the time, that he watched Sir Digby narrowly out 

 of the corners of his eyes, to see if it contained more than a 

 single meaning. 



" His shape is, certainly, both for speed and stoutness," said 

 the baronet. 



" And as fit as a good constitution and I can make him," 

 returned our trainer. 



Sir Digby drew a long breath, and smiled as he spoke. 



" It's our turn, Sellusall, to pull ofi* a few of those good things 

 which began to wear, in my mind, a fabulous existence, and I 

 fervently trust that not only the turn, but the time has arrived." 



" Barring accidents," added our trainer, extending a hand 

 towards me, " there stands your chance, Sir Digby, of turning 

 the tables at last. He's better than he looks, and I think will 

 prove too good for the Cardinal." 



" At what weights do you try them ?" asked the baronet. 



John Sellusall drew back the corners of his mouth as he 

 replied, with a cunning leer, " We'll speak of the weights, Sir 

 Digby, an hour or so hence. Lead out, Spanky." 



A few seconds more, and I was on the road to " my trial." 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE TEIAL AKD FIKST APPEARANCE m PUBLIC. 



The ground selected for " my trial " was one of the severest 

 kind that could possibly be chosen for the purpose, being two 

 miles of the Warren Hill ; and I suppose, from what I heard 

 pass between Sir Digby and our trainer, that few of my age 



