how to do
it."

"You have your choice, Major Tifto. You can speak or hold your
tongue."

Then there was a pause, during which Silverbridge sat with his hands
in his pockets trying to look unconcerned. "But if you've got it
here, and feel it as I do,"--the poor man as he said this put his
hand upon his heart,--"you can't sleep in your bed till it's out. I
did that thing that they said I did."

"What thing?"

"Why, the nail! It was I lamed the horse."

"I am sorry for it. I can say nothing else."

"You ain't so sorry for it as I am. Oh no; you can never be that, my
Lord. After all, what does it matter to you?"

"Very little. I meant that I was sorry for your sake."

"I believe you are, my Lord. For though you could be rough you was
always kind. Now I will tell you everything, and then you can do as
you please."

"I wish to do nothing. As far as I am concerned the matter is over.
It made me sick of horses, and I do not wish to have to think of it
again."

"Nevertheless, my Lord, I've got to tell it. It was Green who put me
up to it. He did it just for the plunder. As God is my judge it was
not for the money I did it."

"Then it was revenge."

"It was the devil got hold of me, my Lord. Up to that I had always
been square,--square as a die! I got to think that your Lordship was
upsetting. I don't know whether your Lordship remembers, but you did
put me down once or twice rather uncommon."

"I hope I was not unjust."

"I don't say you was, my Lord. But I got a feeling on me that you
wanted to get rid of me, and I all the time doing the best I could
for the 'orses. I did do the best I could up to that very morning at
Doncaster. Well;--it was Green put me up to it. I don't say I was
to get nothing; but it wasn't so much more than I could have got by
the 'orse winning. And I've lost pretty nearly all that I did get.
Do you remember, my Lord,"--and now the Major sank his voice to a
whisper,--"when I come up to your bedroom that morning?"

"I remember it."

"The first time?"

"Yes; I remember it."

"Because I came twice, my Lord. When I came first it hadn't been
done. You turned me out."

"That is true, Major Tifto."

"You was very rough then. Wasn't you rough?"

"A man's bedroom is generally supposed to be private."

"Yes, my Lord,--that's true. I ought to have sent your man in first.
I came then to confess it all, before it was done."

"Then why couldn't you let the horse alone?"

"I was in th