WHO WON THE KENILWORTH CUP. 201 



that Manners thought it would point the remark if he 

 slapped him on the back : ' This is what I call cut and 

 come again ! ' St. Asaph could stand a good deal, but 

 being patted on the back was too much ; ' He may C7i.t 

 as much as he likes,' my brother muttered to me, ' but 

 I'll take care he never couies again !' 'Bad Manners,' 

 St. Asaph calls him." 



They turned aside from the road up a somewhat muddy 

 lane and, knocking at the door of a low-roofed farm- 

 house, were promptly admitted by a hale-looking old 

 man, who ushered them into a tiled kitchen hung round 

 with pictures of hunting and racing celebrities, man and 

 beast, and decorated in such a way as bespoke the 

 residence of a trainer — a position in life which Mat 

 Straightley occupied with considerable success. 



"Good morning, my lord — good morning, sir!" he 

 said cheerily. " Yes, sir, I fetched Achates from Mr. 

 Manners' place last night," he answered to Dick 

 Evelyn's question. 



"And how's the mare, Straightley r" Beauclerc asked. 



" All right, my lord ; as well as she can be, and as 

 lively as a kitten. The boys are in the stable, gentle- 

 men; and if you'll just have something to take the edge 

 off the morning air, we'll start. A glass of brown 

 sherry ? You know the tap, my lord ? " 



"No, thanks, Straightley. Too early for sherry, don't 

 you think ? There they are ! By Jove, she does look 

 well ! " 



Evelyn glanced out of the window to the stable- 



