AiV ECCENTRIC CHASE. 253 



feels when he has paid ^ 500 for the privilege of making 

 an ass of himself 



In due course out came the evening papers. 



Lord Russford's b.c. King Pippin . . .1 

 Mr. Jenning's Trouville . . . . .2 

 Sir W. Heseltine's Half Moon . . .3 



And the journal further stated that it was won in a 

 canter by half a dozen lengths. 



That evening I was engaged to dine, and, happily, 

 with some people who did not talk racing ; but in the 

 evening I strolled down to the Smoking Room. The 

 usual cheery group was round the fire, and lounging in 

 an easy-chair, a little away from the rest, reading the 

 special Standard and quietly smoking, was the man I 

 had been chasing so ardently — Herbert Leonard. 



He looked up with perfect calmness, and quietly said, 

 " Holloa ? Good evening. How are you r " 



*' Well, my dear fellow, I may say that I am pretty 

 well blown with pursuing you for the last six months, or 

 what seems like it. I've been to Paris, Nice, to the 

 Towers, to Chorlington, and some dozen other vile holes, 

 to say nothing of a score or two visits to your rooms," I 

 tell him. 



" And why all this exertion ? " he coolly asks, with a 

 look of innocent surprise on his face. 



" Haven't you got my telegrams ? " I ask in turn. 



'' Oh, yes, of course. I received it just now. Are there 



