A Good Day 51 



well and badly, and, in fact, met with the varying 

 fortune which accompanies turf speculations. As we 

 left to cross the course, he said impressively : 



' " Now, I think Herbert's colt is sure to win this, but 

 don't say a word aboat it, and you needn't be in a hurry 

 to back it — it won't be favourite, and you'll get a better 

 price by waiting. You see " 



' " First of all, pray tell me who Herbert is," I inter- 

 rupted. '' You see, I don't know people's names, and I 

 may make a mistake — it's very easy to get confused, I 

 find." 



' '' Of course it is, old chap ; but I thought you knew 

 that Herbert was running one of his — Herbert Newstead, 

 who dined with us last night and came down with us 

 to-day " Now at length I seemed to be upon safe ground ! 

 " He bought this colt at Doncaster last year," Wennington 

 went on ; " it ran fairly well at Ascot, but it hasn't been 

 out since ; however, he galloped it last week, and I don't 

 see what's to beat it. I shall have a dash. You go in 

 quietly and wait till the betting has settled down a 

 bit. It looks as if we were going to have a real good 

 day ! " 



' He nodded cheerily, and went in at the Members* 

 gate, whilst I pursued my way to my own stand. This 

 time, at least, there could be no mistake ! Mr. Herbert 

 Newstead' s colt was the animal I had to back. It was a 

 comfort to be on the right track at last ! If he had said 

 Herbert's colt, I might have searched for a Mr. Herbert 

 and not found one, or worse, perhaps found such a name 

 and backed his horse ; but about Mr. Herbert Newstead 

 I could not blunder. The animal's name, however, I 

 had not heard, and so pulled out my card. Where was 

 Mr. Herbert Newstead ? I read the conditions : '- National 



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