le, "is there no one in whom I can trust?"

"Yes, my lady," cried the tout, harshly. "You trust to me, and buy that
little white dawg--no, I'll make yer a present of it, if you'll cry
quits about me being here. No, you don't, Marky; I'm going to speak.
I'm a-going to give her ladyship the right tip, and my tips are the real
square right 'uns."

There was a bit of a struggle, which was checked by Sir Hilton, who, as
if inspired by his thoughts, interfered.

"Yes, my dear," he said; "hear what the man says."

"Right you are, Sir Rilton. You always was a gent as I respected. Look
here, my lady, don't you be so hard on a gent as likes to go in for a
bit of the real true old English sport. I know, my lady--yes, I've jest
done, and then I'll put on my boots. Pricked my foot, I did, with that
there spiky plahnt. Here, don't you think anything o' that drop o' fizz
he had. Sir Rilton didn't have enough to make him tight."

"No--on my soul I didn't, Laura," cried Sir Hilton. "The man's right."

"Right I am, Sir Rilton," cried the tout. "No, you don't, my
white-chokered herb!" he shouted, making a dash at Trimmer, who was
quietly making for the door. "Got him! You, Mark Willows, you collar
old Sam Simpkins. He's t'other customer in that little game."

"Here, what do you mean, sir?" said Sir Hilton, sternly.

"Mean, Sir Rilton--mean, Lady Lisle, and my Lady Tilborough--and Heaven
bless my lady and the noble man of your chice--why, I mean this, as I
see with these here eyes, going about and in and out selling my c'rect
cards, all the starters, anceterer--No, you don't; down you goes on your
marrow-bones and makes confession to the lot."

The tout had tightly hold of Trimmer's collar as he spoke, and now, by a
clever kick, he sent his legs from under him and pressed him down upon
his knees, shivering, helpless, and whiter than ever.

"Now, my lady--now, all of you, here's the real true tip: Sir Rilton
here warn't tight. He was hocussed with a dose o' powder, so as he
shouldn't be able to ride La Sylphidey, and them's the two as done it.
That's my tip."

"A lie! You scoundrel! A lie!"

"I don't understand him," panted Lady Lisle.

"Hocussed him instead of the horse, my lady," said the trainer, coolly.
"You see, I couldn't get at the mare to save myself from a heavy pull.
Yes, my lady; yes, doctor, I mixed the dose, and I can assure you, Sir
Hilton, that cham was real good."

"But oh, daddy," cried poor