A Good Thixg 163 



a two-year-old, and qualified at Kempton as a four, at 

 any rate. ' 



' Well, you seem satisfied, and that's a great deal, no 

 doubt ' 



' Makes it look pretty good, doesn't it ? ' Leigh inter- 

 polated. 



' But I can't see how it can possibly be a good thing 

 with Barnes up,' Frey insisted. 



' No, by Jove, that's just where it is, you know ! * 

 Leigh once more acquiesced. 



' I dare say Barnes is training on. He's having lots 

 of riding just now, of course,'— Barnes was away on 

 leave, staying with the trainer who had charge of his 

 horses — ' but you can't squeeze much experience into a 

 fortnight's work. I should like to know what you are 

 going on, Upton, for you would not be so confident if 

 you didn^t know something, and I can't see what it is.' 



' Wait till the race, and you'll see then ! ' he answered, 

 as the sound of the bugle caused him to rise and look 

 round for his cap. The other sat silently when he had 

 gone, trying to make it out, and Leigh fell to searching 

 an old ' Calendar ' for the utterly futile purpose of seeing 

 what sort of form Dewdrop had shown as a two-year-old. 

 There was no doubt whatever that Upton was familiar 

 with nearly every move on the board. Like many other 

 people, he generally lost during the flat-race season, but 

 when sport began under N.H. Eules he was tolerably 

 often correct in his judgment. Anything might win a 

 short-distance flat race was the conclusion he had come 

 to after a long experience of ' certainties ' ; but— though 

 this is not the idea that would commend itself to casual 

 observers of racing— a few jumps steadied horses, and 

 gave the best animal the best chance, so that it was safer 



M 2 



