cards, suddenly appeared at
the window with: "Success to your ladyship, and may yer win every race!
You'll buy a few c'rect cards of Dandy Dinny, the only original purveyor
of--"

"Get out, you scoundrel!" cried the doctor, fiercely.

"Cert'ny, my noble doctor; but you'll buy a c'rect card of--"

He did not finish, for the doctor threw a coin quickly out of the
window, and the wretched-looking lout rushed to field it, before he was
outpaced.

"Poor wretch!" said Lady Tilborough. "But that was very nice of you.
But there, don't follow me--now."

She walked off quickly, and the doctor drew a quick breath.

"Bless her! She never spoke to me like that before."

He turned, full of elation, to find the landlord, with his pencil
between his lips, watching him keenly.

"I shan't dine here, Simpkins," he said.

"Very good, sir. So I heered."

"Splendid day for the race."

"Yes, sir, and the ground's lovely. Made good book, sir?"

"Oh, yes, capital."

"Glad to see her ladyship bears it so well."

"Bears it? Oh, she never gives way to excitement. She'd be cool, even
if she felt she would lose."

"Oh, yes, sir; I know well enough what spirit she has."

"Rather a big field, though, Sam."

"Yes, sir; but there's only one as can stay."

"Exactly. La Sylphide, of course. By George! I'll take the liberty of
making her namesake a present."

"Very good of you, sir, but she's out of it."

"What?"

"Jim Crow's the horse, sir. First favourite now."

"Bah!" cried the doctor.

"What! Ain't you heard, sir?"

"Heard! Heard what?"

"Lady Tilborough's mare won't run."

"You don't mean it?" cried the doctor, turning pale.

"Fact, sir. I never plays tricks with gents I knows. Honesty's the
best policy, sir; and you know as you can trust Sam Simpkins."

"But--but--Good heavens! What does it mean? Lady Tilborough never said
a word. Then that's why I couldn't see any sign of her people down by
the paddock."

"That's it, sir."

"But why? What's the reason?"

"No jock, sir. Ladyship's man's down--acciden', killed, or ill, or
some'at. Anyhow, he can't ride the mare, and as you well know, nobody
else can."

"Oh!" groaned the doctor.

"Why, you hain't put anything on her, have you, sir?"

"I have, Sam, heavily, and for a friend as well."

"Then you're in the wrong box, sir, and no mistake. That comes o' gents
going on their own hook instead o' taking a honest agent's advice."

"Give me y