262 Making the Running 



Stebbing had gone off on business of his own, leaving 

 Cecil wandering disconsolately about the paddock, reflect- 

 ing on the position of affairs which would arise if this 

 good thing were beaten. Where was he to get the money 

 from to pay Thornton and Jones, and, indeed, to keep 

 things going ? How could he join his regiment, begin 

 his career, when he was a defaulter ? Jones knew all 

 about him, and might go so far as to threaten, indeed 

 actually to make, application to his uncle ; and what 

 would Florence's father say to a young man who had 

 practically passed the fool stage and merged into the 

 rogue '? — for awkward names are applied to youths who 

 bet when they know they cannot pay. Strolling thus 

 about the paddock, head down, Cecil found himself face 

 to face with a couple of friends, one in cap and jacket 

 ready to ride, the other in everyday garb ; and he greeted 

 them as cheerily as he could. 



' Halloa, Chester ! What's the meaning of this ? ' 

 he asked, referring to the cap and jacket. 



' Tom is training on to become the Arthur Coventry 

 of the future,' replied the other, Douglas by name. ' He 

 is '* Mr. Edw^ardes," if you please, and he's going to ride 

 that high-class racehorse Vintager. If you want to lose 

 your money, you had better back it.' 



' Don't be too jocular ! ' Chester replied. ' I've got a 

 decided chance on the Leicester running, and my horse 

 was never so well in his life. In fact, I've half a mind 

 to have a plunge.' 



' Don't be an idiot,' Cecil rejoins ; ' there's a good 

 thing in the race.' 



' Then I wish you'd tell me which of them it is, for I 

 don't see how^ you are to separate Port Admiral and 

 Carnation.' 



