made to keep his own ticket, and Diana was knocked down to him at the
same price that Crom-a-boo had fetched.

Then the fun grew fast and furious, and calls for hot water and
spirits were loud and incessant.

"By the holy poker, boys, I'm thirsty after that," said McKeon; "you
should stand me a bottle of champagne among ye, no less--just to take
the dryness out of my throat, before I begin drinking."

"Champagne, indeed, Tony; wouldn't a bucket of brandy and water serve
you?"

"Indeed, Fitz, if you're to pay for it yourself, a mouthful of brandy
and water wouldn't be a bad thing--for I want something more than
ordinary afther that work. Ah! Conner, it was the bidding afther that
mare of your's that broke my heart entirely--why, man, you see, every
one wanted her."

"Niver mind, Mr. McKeon, niver mind!" said Pat, with his one eye
fixed on his punch. "She's a nice, good, easy creature, anyway.
I don't have to be sending a boy down through the rack to be
cleaning her, as they say you do with the one you're going to start
to-morrow--pray God she don't kill any of us, that's all."

"Pray God she don't, Pat, and especially you. Well, Fitz, where's
this brandy and water you're talking about?"

"To hear Tony talking," said little Larry, "one would think he didn't
drink this week; when he got a sup at every bid that was made, and
finished a tumbler as every horse was knocked down; why that was
eight tumblers of punch!"

"Water, Larry, all water to clear my throat--ask the waiter else."

"It's little of that cure you take, I'm thinking--waiter, bring some
tobacco here."

And now the party began smoking as well as drinking; and an
atmosphere was formed, which soon drove the Major out of the
room--not, however, before McKeon implored him to stay just for one
handicap, as he wanted to challenge the bay gelding he drove under
his gig; and as the Major was waiting for his hat, Tony threw a
shilling on the table.

"Come, Major, cover that, just for luck; I must have a shy at that
gig horse; I want him for Mrs. McKeon's car. Come, I'll tell you
every beast I've got, and you may choose from them all, from the mare
that's to win to-morrow, down to the flock of turkeys that's in the
yard at Drumsna."

But the Major was inexorable; he thought the L40 and the red coat
which he had had to buy for to-morrow's use, together with the hard
work he had to do, was enough for popularity; and may be he had heard
of Tony's celebrity i