Phyllis and Ophelia 



37 



when they have backed you and won their money — while 

 the Major was not unnaturally depressed. 



'If that's no good, mine must be a very bad one,' 

 he gloomily remarked, nodding towards where the mare 

 was being led away ; and at the moment a horrible 

 suspicion began to dawn upon Sharpe ! Before he could 

 frame it in his own mind the Major's servant approached 

 him with a telegram in his hand. It was addressed to 



^^ 



^«-^-ri. 



Osborne was naturally Radiant as he recefved his Friends' 

 Congratulations 



Sharpe, from Auteuil Eacecourse. He had asked his 

 French confederate to send him a wire to Aldersham as 

 soon as their race was over, and this was it. He opened 

 it and read : — 



* Mare beaten a hundred yards in a had field.'' 



Then the suspicion took distinct form. 



After all, Osborne must have got the true Ph3'llis, 

 and the Ophelia, which had been sent to Auteuil, was in 



