26 Phyllis and Ophella 



surly tone. ' It's no good wrangling about it, though it's 

 desperate bad luck, and as for backing the mare at 

 Alder sham, I don't care for that much when an outsider 

 has the ride.' 



Thomas, from the other side of the table, looked up. 



' You haven't been to Horley these last few days, have 

 you, Mr. Sharpe ? ' he asked. 



' No ; nor these last few weeks for the matter of 

 that. Why?' 



' Because I see rather a funny thing there. In the 

 last lot of horses that Tim AYetheral had from the 

 Curragh there's a mare the very spit of Phyllis — an aged 

 mare, same shade of colour, same star, and same white 

 heel. Funniest thing I ever saw ! I thought the gov'ner 

 had sent Phyllis over for something or other when I 

 came across her first ; but there she is,' Thomas said. 



Both the listeners turned with interest to the speaker. 



* And what then ? ' Sharpe presently asked. * What 

 sort is she *? ' 



' Very bad, they say. As slow as a man ; can get over 

 a fence, but isn't likely to wdn unless everything else 

 falls down. Tim says it's no good running her, only if 

 their horses don't win once or twice, somebody generally 

 thinks they're being kept for something, and buys them. 

 They've got rid of one or two that way that was no good 

 at all.' 



' Well ? ' Sharpe continued, as the groom laid down 

 the bit and cloth on the table. 



'Well, supposing the gov'ner bought the mare, 

 and ' 



' I see ! ' Sharpe broke in, nodding with a cunning 

 twinkle of the eyes to Dossie, who was also just breaking 

 his way through the mystery. ' You're no fool, Thomas. 



