the spot where Lord Ballindine and the trainer
were standing, and shot away till he was beyond the place where he
knew his gallop ordinarily ended. As Grady said, he hadn't yet been
stretched; he had never yet tried his own pace, and he had that look so
beautiful in a horse when running, of working at his ease, and much
within his power.

"He's a beautiful creature," said Lord Ballindine, as he mournfully
reflected that he was about to give up to Dot Blake half the possession
of his favourite, and the whole of the nominal title. It was such a
pity he should be so hampered; the mere _eclat_ of possessing such a
horse was so great a pleasure; "He is a fine creature," said he, "and,
I am sure, will do well."

"Your lordship may say that: he'll go precious nigh to astonish the
Saxons, I think. I suppose the pick-up at the Derby'll be nigh four
thousand this year."

"I suppose it will--something like that."

"Well; I would like a nag out of our stables to do the trick on the
downs, and av' we does it iver, it'll be now. Mr Igoe's standing a deal
of cash on him. I wonder is Mr Blake standing much on him, my lord?"

"You'd be precious deep, Grady, if you could find what he's doing in
that way."

"That's thrue for you, my lord; but av' he, or your lordship, wants
to get more on, now's the time. I'll lay twenty thousand pounds this
moment, that afther he's been a fortnight at Johnny Scott's the odds
agin him won't be more than ten to one, from that day till the morning
he comes out on the downs."

"I dare say not."

"I wondher who your lordship'll put up?"

"That must depend on Scott, and what sort of a string he has running.
He's nothing, as yet, high in the betting, except Hardicanute."

"Nothing, my lord; and, take my word for it, that horse is ownly jist
run up for the sake of the betting; that's not his nathural position.
Well, Pat, you may take the saddle off. Will your lordship see the mare
out to-day?"

"Not to-day, Grady. Let's see, what's the day she runs?"

"The fifteenth of May, my lord. I'm afraid Mr Watts' Patriot 'll be too
much for her; that's av' he'll run kind; but he don't do that always.
Well, good morning to your lordship."

"Good morning, Grady;" and Frank rode back towards Handicap Lodge.

He had a great contest with himself on his road home. He had hated
the horses two days since, when he was at Grey Abbey, and had hated
himself, for having become their possessor; and now he couldn't bea