the big Chestnut as he swung round the course
glued to the rail. On Lauzanne sped, and to the rhythm of his big
heaving quarters the girl's soul sang a song of delight. At last, at
last was coming her reward.

And then, just when everything had been achieved, when the great
gallop had brought them half up the stretch, something came to
Lauzanne--perhaps the memory of the whipping finishes; at any rate, he
curled up like a dog, threw his ears back--Allis could feel the sudden
stiff prop of the forelegs as he set himself against the rush of
speed--and in a dozen strides he was Lauzanne again, Lauzanne the
Despised.

And so it had gone on for weeks, Allis working out her theory up to the
time of the trouble over Diablo. There was something in the girl's quiet
determination that was masterful; perhaps that was why she had always
had her own way at home. Now this mastery was spreading out wonderfully;
Lauzanne, and Mike, and her father, and Crane, and Mortimer, all in
different degrees of subjection, but, as Fate knew, all subject.

Mrs. Porter's continual lament on the subject of racing had given Crane
a keynote for his line of action. It was the day following her scoring
of the tolerant husband that Crane revisited Ringwood full of his new
idea.

He had an impulse to buy back Lauzanne. For almost the first time in
his life he experienced twinges of remorse; this was because of Allis.
Porter's affairs were in a bad way, and he would probably accept eagerly
an offer from Crane to lighten his load. Individually he cared little for
Porter's financial troubles, but it was a good opportunity to prepare
the way for a stronger pressing of his suit with the girl. With his
usual fine discrimination he spoke to Mrs. Porter first, intimating
never so slightly that her words had won his entire sympathy; that if
her husband would sell any of the horses he would buy them.

There was a convincing sincerity about Crane at all times; what he did
he did with the full vigor of a man believing in its truth. One
might almost have suspected that he deceived himself, that he had no
conception of the unrighteousness of his acts. At any rate, he imposed
most successfully upon the mother of Allis. Quite egotistically she
attributed to herself the trend of his friendship. In racing phrase,
Crane was out for a killing and playing his cards with consummate skill.

With the master of Ringwood he went very straight to the point. This
was possible