AN OFF CHANCE. 199 



every day, it seems to me. In a fortnight's time 

 we should have a better chance against him, for 

 we are improving, too ; but to-day I'm afraid 

 he'll be too much for us." 



*' Past Master's not here, I suppose ? " 

 Wynnerly asked. 



" No, or else he'd beat the lot," Tom replied. 

 *' That would be a good thing, Mr. Flutterton, 

 or at least as good as they make them, which is 

 never quite good enough to risk a great deal of 

 money on," he continued, with a smile. 



''Yes; and the worst of it is that brute 

 Crossley will ride Red Eonald, of course. All 

 my bad luck seems to be mixed up with that 

 fellow, and, of course, he'll beat us, and I shall 

 lose my hundred on Osprey to-day ! " poor 

 Flutterton said, lighting a cigarette, and con- 

 juring up an amiable grin. " What asses we are 

 to pay for those fellows' horses ! " he went on, 

 nodding towards a handsome pair of bays in a 

 phaeton driven by a black-moustached individual, 

 by whose side sat a dirty-looking, ill-dressed, 

 bearded servant. " There's Capper, got a 

 rattling good pair of horses, and he was yelling 

 out in the ready-money ring a couple of years 

 ago ; and look ! there's another bookmaker with 

 the best pony in Beachington." 



'' Yes ; and there's your friend Crossley 



