ONLY THE MARE. zii 



" I do. He never was much good, I 'ear ; never won 

 nothing, though he's run hurdle-races two or three 

 times ; and since Phil Kelly's been preparing of him 

 for this race he's near about broke down. His legs 

 swells up like bolsters after his gallops ; and he can't 

 hardly get three miles at all, I don't believe, without he's 

 pulled up and let lean against something on the journey 

 to rest hisself." 



" And yet you're backing him ? " 



*' And yet I'm backing of him." 



"This young Peyton's mare can't be worse r" said 

 the younger man interrogatively. 



"That mare, it's my belief, would stand at eight to 

 one for the Grand National if she was entered, and some 

 of the swells saw 'er. She's a real good un ! " replied 

 the man with the collar. 



" I see. You've got at her jockey. You're an artful 

 one, you are ! " 



As the jockey to whom they alluded, I was naturally 

 much interested. 



"No, I ain't done that, neither. He's a gentleman, 

 and it's no use talkin' to such as 'im. They ain't got 

 the sense to take up a good thing when they see it — 

 though, for the matter o' that, some of the perfessionals 

 is as bad as the gentlemen — them as is gentlemen, I 

 mean, for some of the reg'lar gentlemen riders is downy 

 and comfortable. All's fair in love and war, says I ; 

 and this 'ere's war." 



" Does Blankney know how bad his horse is ? " 



Q 2 



