ght of my losing."

"Cut up?" he cried earnestly and naturally. "It made me forget poor
Hilt and myself."

"Thank you, dear boy," she said quietly. "I never thought you so true a
friend before."

She glanced at her watch.

"Time's on the wing," she said. "Hilt Lisle ought to be here by now; he
was to meet me at the hotel, but I must have a look at the mare."

"May I go with you?"

"If you wish to," was the reply, and joy began a triumphant dance in the
young doctor's brain, for there was a something in the way in which
those words were uttered. None of the light badinage, laughter and
repartee, for Lady Tilborough seemed to have suddenly turned thoughtful
and subdued, as she passed out, unconscious of the fact that the trainer
had entered the hall and was watching her keenly.

"Beg pardon, sir," he said, following up Granton.

"Oh, bother! Well, what is it?"

"Sorry to see her ladyship so down in the mouth now. You should put her
up to a bit of hedging on Jim Crow."

Granton gave him a peculiar look, full of perfect content, and laughed
aloud.

"Moonshine!" he cried, and dashed after the sporting countess.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

"MY DAUGHTER AND MY SON-IN-LAW."

"Moonshine!" said the trainer, with a puzzled look after the departing
doctor. "Laughing like an idiot. Rum how it takes different people.
Here's my stepping lady looking as if she meant to take pyson in her
five o'clock tea, the doctor regularly off his chump, and I dessay
someone'll go home by train to-night, load a revolver, and--click! All
over. Well, they shouldn't meddle with what they don't understand.
Reg'lar gambling, and they deserve all they get. Hullo! You here
again?"

This to the pink-coated tout, who came smiling and cringing up to the
door.

"Brought yer a tip. Something good, Mr Simpkins, sir."

"Yah! Rubbish! My book's chock."

"But it's the tippiest tip, sir, as ever was," whispered the man from
behind his hand. "Worth a Jew's eye."

"I'm fly, Dinny," said the trainer, with a wink. "Tell it to some one
else. I don't trade to-day."

"You'll repent it, Mr Sam, sir," whispered the man, earnestly, and with
many nods and jerks of the head, as he kept looking about furtively to
see that they were not overheard.

"Of course. All right," said the trainer, contemptuously. "Down on
your luck, eh, Dinny?"

"Terrible, sir."

"Want a drink?"

The man smiled, and drew the back of a dirty hand across his