a trade as his. Perhaps it
was well that he should inwardly suffer when injured. But it could
not be well that he should declare to such men as Nidderdale, and
Dolly Longstaff, and Popplecourt that he didn't mean to put up with
that sort of thing. He certainly should not have spoken in this
strain before Tregear. Of all men living he hated and feared him
the most. And he knew that no other man loved Silverbridge as did
Tregear. Had he been thinking of his bread-and-butter, instead
of giving way to the mighty anger of his little bosom, he would
have hardly declared openly at the club that he would let Lord
Silverbridge know that he did not mean to stand any man's airs. But
these extravagances were due perhaps to whisky-and-water, and that
kind of intoxication which comes to certain men from momentary
triumphs. Tifto could always be got to make a fool of himself when
surrounded by three or four men of rank who, for the occasion, would
talk to him as an equal. He almost declared that Coalition had lost
his match because he had not been taken down to Silverbridge.

"Tifto is in a deuce of a way with you," said Dolly Longstaff to the
young member.

"I know all about it," said Silverbridge, who had had an interview
with his partner since the race.

"If you don't take care he'll dismiss you."

Silverbridge did not care much about this, knowing that words of
wisdom did not ordinarily fall from the mouth of Dolly Longstaff. But
he was more moved when his friend Tregear spoke to him. "I wish you
knew the kind of things that fellow Tifto says behind your back."

"As if I cared!"

"But you ought to care."

"Do you care what every fellow says about you?"

"I care very much what those say whom I choose to live with me.
Whatever Tifto might say about me would be quite indifferent to
me, because we have nothing in common. But you and he are bound
together."

"We have a horse or two in common; that's all."

"But that is a great deal. The truth is he's a nasty, brawling,
boasting, ill-conditioned little reptile."

Silverbridge of course did not acknowledge that this was true. But he
felt it, and almost repented of his trust in Tifto. But still Prime
Minister stood very well for the Derby. He was second favourite, the
odds against him being only four to one. The glory of being part
owner of a probable winner of the Derby was so much to him that he
could not bring himself to be altogether angry with Tifto. There
was no dou