vid dream of
two crowned figures walking into a slaughter-house by the banks of a big
river, which I took to be the Danube; and only the other day--"

"Do tell us what you've dreamt about the Derby," interrupted Odo
impatiently.

"Well, I saw the finish of the race as clearly as anything; and one horse
won easily, almost in a canter, and everybody cried out 'Bread and Butter
wins! Good old Bread and Butter.' I heard the name distinctly, and I've
had the same dream two nights running."

"Bread and Butter," said Mrs. de Claux, "now, whatever horse can that
point to? Why--of course; Nursery Tea!"

She looked round with the triumphant smile of a successful unraveller of
mystery.

"How about Le Five O'Clock?" interposed Sir Lulworth.

"It would fit either of them equally well," said Odo; "can you remember
any details about the jockey's colours? That might help us."

"I seem to remember a glimpse of lemon sleeves or cap, but I can't be
sure," said Lola, after due reflection.

"There isn't a lemon jacket or cap in the race," said Bertie, referring
to a list of starters and jockeys; "can't you remember anything about the
appearance of the horse? If it were a thick-set animal, this bread and
butter would typify Nursery Tea; and if it were thin, of course, it would
mean Le Five O'Clock."

"That seems sound enough," said Mrs. de Claux; "do think, Lola dear,
whether the horse in your dream was thin or stoutly built."

"I can't remember that it was one or the other," said Lola; "one wouldn't
notice such a detail in the excitement of a finish."

"But this was a symbolic animal," said Sir Lulworth; "if it were to
typify thick or thin bread and butter surely it ought to have been either
as bulky and tubby as a shire cart-horse; or as thin as a heraldic
leopard."

"I'm afraid you are rather a careless dreamer," said Bertie resentfully.

"Of course, at the moment of dreaming I thought I was witnessing a real
race, not the portent of one," said Lola; "otherwise I should have
particularly noticed all helpful details."

"The Derby isn't run till to-morrow," said Mrs. de Claux; "do you think
you are likely to have the same dream again to-night? If so; you can fix
your attention on the important detail of the animal's appearance."

"I'm afraid I shan't sleep at all to-night," said Lola pathetically;
"every fifth night I suffer from insomnia, and it's due to-night."

"It's most provoking," said Bertie; "of course, we c