WHO WON THE KENILWORTH CUP. 209 



" There is no delusion, sir," Beauclerc answered. 



" Then, what the deuce is it ? Will you kindly ex- 

 plain, because I'm not aware of having done anything 

 particularly atrocious since last week ? " said Evelyn. 



" I think I've seen that animal before, Mr. Evelyn ! " 

 and Beauclerc pointed to a group, in which Wyatt 

 was inspecting his horse's trappings preparatory to 

 mounting. 



" I've no doubt you have, Lord Beauclerc, and I was 

 just going to tell you about it ; but your strange man- 

 ner repelled the confidence." He was silent for a 

 moment, and then continued : " Look here, Beauclerc, 

 we've been a good deal together since we were boys, 

 and I don't think you've ever known me do anything 

 exceptionally blackguardly ? " 



" j\Iost certainly not ; and I'm, therefore, the more 

 surprised, Evelyn " 



" Will you defer your surprise for half an hour, and 

 put yourself entirely in my hands ? Will you ? " Dick 

 asked. 



For half a second Beauclerc paused. Achates, he 

 felt certain, could win this race. There stood Achates 

 in perfect health and condition. If Evelyn didn't intend 

 to win, he was going to rope his horse and lose on pur- 

 pose, and that was just about as low a thing to do as to 

 go for the race after the assurance he had given his 

 friend on the morning of the trial. This side of the 

 question seemed very close and conclusive ; but, on the 

 other hand, Dick was a gentleman, and so that side of 



P 



