s and some odd shillings. If it suits your convenience
to pay the money, or enter into bail for the amount, I'll be very happy
to ride your horse; for, although I don't care for a double ditch, I've
no fancy to take the wall of the county jail, even on the back of as
good a horse as Moddiridderoo.--Yours truly, Ulick Burke."'

'Well,' said I, as, after some difficulty, I spelled through this
ill-written and dirty epistle, 'and what do you mean to do here?'

'If you ask me,' said Phil, 'what I 'd like to do, I tell you fairly
it would be to horsewhip my friend Mr. Burke as a preliminary, pay the
stakes, withdraw my horse, and cut the whole concern; but my present
position is, unhappily, opposed to each of these steps. In the first
place, a rencontre with Burke would do me infinite disservice at the
Horse Guards, and as to the payment of eight hundred pounds, I don't
think I could raise the money, unless some one would advance five
hundred of it for a mortgage on Corny Delany. But to be serious,
Jack--and, as time passes, I must be serious--I believe the best way on
this occasion is to give Burke the money (for as to the bill, that's
an invention); yet as I must start to-night for England, and the affair
will require some management, I must put the whole matter into your
hands, with full instructions how to act.'

'I am quite ready and willing,' said I; 'only give me the _carte du
pay_.'

'Well, then, my boy, you'll go down to Loughrea for me the day before
the race, establish yourself as quietly as you can in the hotel, and, as
the riders must be named on the day before the running, contrive to see
Mr. Burke, and inform him that his demand will be complied with. Have
no delicacy with him---it is a mere money question; and although by
the courtesy of the turf he is a gentleman, yet there is no occasion
to treat him with more of ceremony than is due to yourself in your
negotiation. This letter contains the sum he mentions. In addition to
that, I have inclosed a bank cheque for whatever you like to give him;
only remember one thing, Hinton--_he_ must ride, and _I_ must win.'

All the calmness with which O'Grady had hitherto spoken deserted him
at this moment; his face became scarlet, his brow was bent, and his lip
quivered with passion, while, as he walked the room with hurried steps
he muttered between his teeth--

'Yes, though it cost my last shilling, I'll win the race! They thought
to ruin me; the scheme was deepl