26o Making the Running 



I know, and you must remember that she had a great 

 turn of speed as a two-year-old.' 



' Bedford's horse stays,' the other suggests. 



' So does she,' is the reply. 



Will not someone even condescend to discuss the 

 outside claims of Chimney Corner ? Cecil wonders. He, 

 at least, cannot contain himself any longer, and, though 

 he dare not be too explicit, gently observes — 



* Has nothing else any kind of chance ? ' 

 Stebbing glances up from his paper wdth expression- 

 less countenance, but says nothing ; two of the other 

 trio shake their heads. 



' It's no good looking beyond those two ; 100 to 1 on 

 them against the others,' one replies, and the train 

 slackens speed. 



' Who were they ? ' Cecil asks his companion, as they 

 get out of the train and set off across the ground towards 

 the stand. 



* I don't know — I see them racing ; but they are 

 evidently mugs, though they don't suspect it. Port 

 Admiral and Carnation ! The 21 lb. they talk about is 

 all the other way, my boy ! This is a good thing, and 

 I'm glad that nobody seems to be on the track of it. 

 However, you're going to have 200/. on, aren't you ? 

 You'd better make it a monkey — it's a chance that does 

 not often happen, and we're keeping it all to ourselves 

 in the stable — you're the only man outside that I have 

 told, or shall tell ; you'd better make it a monkey ? ' 



'No, thanks,' Cecil replied, 'I'm very much obhged 

 to you, and it's awfully good of you to let me know about 

 it ; but I've lost so much lately I daren't venture ; and 

 besides, don't you have a difficulty in getting so much 

 on a hunters' race at starting price ? ' 



