213 



A LUCKY MISTAKE 



CHAPTEE I 



*It's absolutely my last chance, and though I don't 

 believe in " having a dash " any more than you do, I 

 shall risk it ! ' 



The speaker, Gerald Ashdown, was one of two men 

 who talked as they strolled to and fro on the terrace 

 before the Towers, a pleasantly-situated and most com- 

 fortable-looking country house belonging to Ashdown. 

 It stood high, and the outlook was over a landscape of 

 prosperous appearance, with the sea sparkling in the 

 sunlight for a background. Away to the right was a wide 

 expanse of picturesque down, to the left some coverts, 

 which suggested sport to come later on ; but the owner 

 of the place kept his eyes fixed thoughtfully on the 

 ground as he and his friend, Horace Cranleigh, passed 

 backwards and forwards. 



' Well,' Cranleigh rejoined, ' I think he'll win, but you 

 know ' 



' Yes, I know as well as anyone can tell me of the 

 hundred accidents that may occur. A horse may get 

 shut in, the jockey may make a mistake if he means 

 doing his very best, leave it too long or come too soon — 

 I know all that ; no fellow can go racing long without 



