Phyllis and Ophell-i 25 



Perhaps he's not such a rascal as they say, and at any 

 rate fellows like that are glad to keep straight with a 

 few people if they can,' Lockhart had written. 



CHAPTEK II 



Some three weeks after Phyllis had been bought and 

 entered, Mr. Sharpe paid his visit, unusually long 

 deferred, to the Common Farm, w^here, one morning, he 

 might have been observed leaning back in a chair in 

 Dossie's business-room, puffing moodily at a cigar. 

 Dossie w^as seated at the other side of the fire, looking 

 bewildered, and seeking inspiration from apparently 

 pressing trouble in brandy and w^ater, while Thomas, a 

 Newmarket snaffle bit in one hand, and a r)iece of wash- 

 leather in the other, was standing at the table. 



* It's a confounded nuisance ! ' presently Sharpe said. 

 ' The whole thing fitted in so well. The mare is qualified 

 to run in France ; she could hardly be beaten, and is 

 certain to start at a good price, for it isn't likely to leak 

 out that Vivandiere and Quick March won't be spinning. 

 Instead of that, Phyllis goes to Aldersham, where she 

 isn't wanted, for she'll beat the horse I sold to Major 

 Congreve, and that's quite good enough to win with 

 her out of the way — at least, it ought to be.' 



' Yes, it's a nuisance, as you say ; but what's to be 

 done ? I can't kid young Osborne the mare's dead and 

 then send her to France. What a pity you didn't tell 

 me sooner ! ' Dossie answered. 



* I did tell you that I had a game on for the mare if 

 she was as good as you said, and I thought, of course, 

 you'd keej) her till you saw me,' Sharpe responded, in a 



