200 Too Clever 



had acted straightforwardly hy us, we should have done 

 the same by you ; but I chance to know whose money 

 made the mare a favourite — and it was not right, sir^ 

 after what took place on my downs. But if you are pleased 

 to blame anyone, you must blame me. I manage Mr. 

 Dane's business, and he was so anxious to speak to you 

 about the horse that I persuaded him to stay in Scotland 

 till the day of the race.' 



Moss turned away with a wrathful exclamation. 

 The most exasperating thing of all was that by his ill- 

 judged cunning he had been playing the very game 

 Weekes desired ! His money had made Brown Shoes a 

 favourite, and the consequence was that Weekes had 

 been able to back The Caliph to win a very large stake 

 — not less than 40,000^. was the amount realised by the 

 stable commission — at long prices. 



Stalking moodily along, pondering on this, a deep 

 frown on his face, he met Cartwright, who for his part 

 looked angry also. 



' If it's any satisfaction to you to know it, The Caliph 

 is a good 121b. better than Brown Shoes at the weights, 

 and Weekes was perfectly aware of the fact when you 

 were down there. I suppose that, as he was satisfied 

 about it being so, he left The Caliph out of the trial 

 because you were present. I chanced to have heard about 

 that trial ; and why you should have lied to me and 

 swore your mare won, I don't know. For the future 1 

 beg you'll do your business with a friend whom you 

 can trust,' and he turned contemptuously away. 



Dane, having got back his losses, or at any rate the 

 greater part of them, determined to plunge no more. 

 He was too fond of racing to give it up, and indeed had 

 no reason to do so, especially as the pretty cousin he 



