o the races too."

"How dare you say anything about races, sir!"

"There, chuck it up, uncle. I'm a man of the world too. Give me a lift
to the race, and shut your eyes and I'll shut mine."

"You treacherous young viper!"

"Oh, no, I'm not. Don't you tell about Molly Simpkins--ahem!--coming
here, and I won't say a word to auntie about Lady T. and the races."

"I'll make no such bond with you, you dog!"

"Oh, yes, you will, uncle; and, look here, I haven't done yet. You're
going to give me a fiver."

"Money to bribe you? No!" pried Sir Hilton, firmly.

"No, to put on the winning horse. I want the right tip. What is it?"

"I'll make no such infamous contracts with you, sir," cried Sir Hilton,
furiously, "and I'm going out on business--business of vital
importance."

"Of course, uncle. I understand," said the boy, mockingly.

"And I'm not going to leave you behind to make mischief between me and
your aunt. Come along; I shall take you with me in the dogcart I have
waiting."

"All right, uncle. I know."

"And as a prisoner, sir."

"That's your sort, uncle."

"You wicked young wretch! Come along, quick!"

"Quick as quicksilver, uncle," cried the boy, grinning, as, evading his
uncle's clutch, he thrust his hand through his elder's arm. "Here, I
may as well put the pot on as it seems to be something extra good, so
you'll have to make it two fivers, uncle, and two make ten."

Sir Hilton uttered a wicked word totally unfitted for the ears of youth
standing in such close relationship to him, and a few minutes later the
dogcart--with uncle and nephew in front, and Mark grinning to himself as
he sat behind pressing the bag so that it could not drop off--spun out
of the yard gate, and off and away by the back lanes for the Tilborough
road, now pretty lively with vehicles of all sorts, all bound in the
same direction.

Fate plays strange pranks!

CHAPTER TEN.

HOW JANE LISTENED AND TOLD.

Just at the same time Lady Lisle's barouche was getting very close to
the swing gates and the carriage drive of the Denes, with her ladyship
leaning back.

"Was not that a vehicle of some kind leaving the stable yard, Thomas?"
she said to the coachman.

"Yes, my lady."

"Could you see what it was?"

"Not quite, my lady, but I think it was ours, with Black Nelly in the
sharps, for I heard one of the clicks she gives when she oversteps with
her off hind hoof."

Lady Lisle wondered, and started the ne