THE DETERMINATION. 75 



running for the Derby leaves the Leger much in doubt. "We 

 can't book it a certainty, or an}i:hing like one." 



" So you hav6 said before," replied my owner, and I thought 

 there was a slight peevishness both in the tone and manner. 

 " So you have said before," and he drew a hand across his brow, 

 as if a sudden pain had shot across it. 



" If our horse be improved," resumed John Sellusall, " as I 

 don't for a moment deny. Sir Digby, and to an extent which I 

 was not prepared to see in so short a time, still we cannot de- 

 pend upon his pulling through. Clearwell's form I knovv^ also 

 to be much better than it was in the spring, and although, 

 barring accidents, he is the only horse who is likely to run us 

 close, yet it's my duty to tell you. Sir Digby, that I think he 

 will do so. The distance — let them make the running as they 

 like, with the course as it's almost sure to be in tliis weather — 

 must suit our horse in every respect. He has the strength to 

 stay with the speed and heart to race ; but precisely the same 

 qualities have to be contended with in Clearwell. "We possess 

 no advantage in these respects, that I can see." 



My owner drew a long breath, and again his hand was 

 drawn across his forehead. 



" I-I-I perceive the meaning of your argument," stammered 

 Sir Digby, and his cheeks became almost livid as he spoke. " You 

 would not have me depend upon his winning the double event ?" 



John Sellusall said nothing in reply, but kicked and 

 shuffled the straw at his feet. 



Sir Digby observed the movement — so trifling in itself and 

 yet so significant — with a close and anxious look, and large 

 beads of perspiration broke out and stood glittering upon his 

 upper lip as he uttered, almost inaudibly, " Too late, too late 5 

 / must risk the hazard of the throw." 



Whispered as were the words, John Sellusall heard them. 

 The parenthesis became deeply lined upon their delivery, and, 

 if my quick powers of hearing practised no tleception, a finger 

 and thumb were snapped together in a subdued manner, and I 

 thought there was more, much more, in the sound, than any 

 language of his could have conveyed. 



