264 Making the Running 



that he had 250/. on something, had practically said that 

 it was by Stebbing's advice, and the best way out of the 

 difficulty seemed to the astute Captain to cast in his lot 

 with Cecil, assume an air of frankness, and think of a 

 good excuse afterwards to explain away the inevitable 

 defeat of Chimney Corner. He did not know how nearly 

 Cecil was at the end of his tether ; had an idea that there 

 were rich pickings yet to be had from him ; and so — these 

 reflections having passed rapidly through his brain — 

 he hastened to reply in a low and confidential tone : 



' Well, we thought that Chimney Corner would wm. 

 She has come on wonderfully of late — they always 

 overdid her when she was at Newmarket, and she never 

 showed anything like her true form. If she runs up to 

 her trial, I think she'll win.' 



' We're backing her starting price,' added the all too 

 confidential Cecil, at hearing which Stebbing bit his lip ; 

 ' so mind you don't breathe a word of it. In fact, you'd 

 better not touch it yourselves — stand a tenner each with 

 me, if you like.' And the two accepted the offer, which 

 Cecil booked. 



' You talk too much, my dear fellow,' Stebbing said, 

 rather savagely, as they walked towards the reserved 

 enclosure. ' You should not have said a word — that's not 

 the way to play the game.' 



Cecil apologised. It was a mistake, he knew ; but 

 Douglas had spoken in a chaffing way which vexed him, 

 and he wanted to show, with youthful vanity and im- 

 petuosity, that he did 'know something,' that he was 

 much astuter than his friends supposed. 



They took their places in time to see the horses come 

 out. There were five runners : Port Admiral, Mr. 

 Bedford up, was now a hot favourite at 6 to 4 on ; 



