216 KACECOURSE AND COVERT SIDE. 



head when I accidentally overheard Kushton, 

 the trainer, talking to Crossley about the race. 

 I was leaning against the window outside, and 

 they were talking in that room behind — I 

 couldn't help hearing, and I don't suppose they 

 thought it was a secret. Kushton said there would 

 be only three runners : that Mavis had no 

 chance ; and told him to keep with Osprey to 

 the distance — they thought Mavis was only 

 started to make a pace, I expect — and then he 

 could come away and win as he liked. I knew 

 Osprey couldn't win, so it occurred to me — I 

 was thinking of Foxhall's Ascot Cup — that if 

 Herries rode Osprey, and didn't hurry after me 

 too much, I might have an off chance of getting 

 home before they caught me. Sharp practice ? 

 Not particularly I think, for if Osprey could 

 have won I wouldn't, of course, have done it. 

 I got a lead, as you saw, and slipped them 

 down the hill. You see I knew my mare could 

 gallop ; Tom and Tinkler both said she could 

 stay, so I tried it on. I wanted you to get 

 square, but I did not like to say anything to you 

 before the race, as it was only an off chance." 



Flutterton, who had lost .£100 on Osprey, 

 won a balance of over £2000 on the race, and it 

 is almost unnecessary to say, has a higher 

 opinion than ever of Wynnerly's astuteness. 



