i6o A Good Thing 



not have been two replies to Leigh's query. The fact is 

 that such questions are not put to be answered, but are 

 indirect admissions of conversational sterility. 



Upton rather enjoyed the situation, and liked to tan- 

 talise the curiosity of the others. 



' Your summary of affairs is perfectly correct,' he 

 presently observed. ' On form I dare say the mare has 

 no chance. Lots of horses that win races have no sort 

 of chance on form ; if it were not so, it would be easy to 

 find winners.' 



* Of course, there is a good lot of difference between 

 York and Barnes,' Leigh put in thoughtfully, when the 

 other stopped. ' Barnes doesn't ride very strong over 

 fences either, you know, and he's had so little practice 

 that he'd have no chance against York if they both landed 

 together over the last jump.' 



' Yes, I should say that there's a good 10 lb. between 

 York, who has been at it hard for the last ten years, and 

 Barnes, who very nearly threw away his race last week 

 when he had certainly 21 lb. in hand — and the man on 

 the back of the other was no flyer at the game either.' 



Darsham, though he said little, was, in fact, as full of 

 curiosity as the other two. 



' You went down and rode the mare a gallop yester- 

 day, didn't you ? ' he asked. ' Pity you are too heavy for 

 the mount, Upton. I've seen such lots of good things 

 thrown away at these little meetings because men did not 

 know how to ride, and destroyed their chances. How is 

 she ? I suppose it is good ? ' 



He could not resist asking the last question, though 

 he tried to do so in a casual tone, for, as has happened 

 yearly since the days of the Stuarts — since, indeed, the 

 custom of backing horses was first organised — the talent 



