316 WHO IS TO RIDE HIM? 



tween ; and besides, I know nothing of betting, but 

 this I feel sure of, that such a horse as mine has 

 not been out for years." 



" That," said his lordship, " I am quite certain of, 

 or you would not run him, and you are too good a 

 judge to be deceived. You may depend on my 

 doing all you wish. I shall be as silent as death 

 on the subject, and not a word shall escape me. 

 Let me see " — consulting his note-book — " I am to 

 go as far as five hundred for you ; that ought to 

 win you a handsome sum. I shall go as far for 

 myself. You are to come to me four days before 

 the Silverpool, and I am to take you there in the 

 drag. That is the order of march, is it not ? " 



" Exactly," said George. " Now let's have a 

 cigar — you have plenty of time before you start. 

 If you have any luck you will be sitting chez vous 

 to-morrow evening." 



It turned out as his friend predicted. The 

 following evening Lord Plunger was comfortably 

 lolling in his arm chair, thinking what a clever 

 fellow Bradon was, and how secretly his own 

 journey to France had been managed. This then 

 was the reason Lord Plunger had taken some of 

 the extravagant long odds that had been laid 

 against Bradon's horse. 



The morning of the Grand Silverpool broke bright 



