66 HARK FORRARD! 



sides, this very horse, Mogul, beat Independent 

 a year ago in this same race, but Independent 

 was not fit to run against a jackass then. I 

 begged Maddox not to run him ; he had only 

 just got over a real bad attack of influenza, and 

 though he was looking fresh and well, he had 

 no muscle on him, and was, as they all are after 

 that, as weak as a cat. Mind you, Mogul is 

 very fit now, fitter than your horse, as yours 

 wants a couple of good gallops ; but still I am 

 game to back yours if he runs.' 



' How are we to work it ? ' said Reginald. 



' No trouble about that ; leave it to me. 

 We dine with Howlett to-night at the Metro- 

 politan Club ; and if we were as sure of winning 

 as we are of getting a match on, we might be 

 quite happy.' 



' All right, then ; I will leave it all to you.' 



After partaking of a most excellent dinner 

 at the Metropolitan Club, during the course of 

 which the day's sport was the principal topic of 

 conversation, they adjourned to the smoking 

 room. 



