at his misfortune was already known to all
his friends.

And now what was he to do? He ate his supper, and then without
hesitating for a moment,--feeling that if he did hesitate the task
would not be done on that night,--he sat down and wrote the following
letter:

Carlton Terrace, Sept. 14, 18--.

MY DEAR MR. MORETON,

I have just come up from Doncaster. You have probably
heard what has been Prime Minister's fate. I don't know
whether any horse has ever been such a favourite for the
Leger. Early in the morning he was taken out and picked up
a nail. The consequence was he could not run.

Now I must come to the bad part of my story. I have lost
seventy thousand pounds! It is no use beating about the
bush. The sum is something over that. What am I to do? If
I tell you that I shall give up racing altogether I dare
say you will not believe me. It is a sort of thing a man
always says when he wants money; but I feel now I cannot
help saying it.

But what shall I do? Perhaps, if it be not too much
trouble, you will come up to town and see me. You can send
me a word by the wires.

You may be sure of this, I shall make no attempt to raise
the money elsewhere, unless I find that my father will not
help me. You will understand that of course it must be
paid. You will understand also what I must feel about
telling my father, but I shall do so at once. I only wait
till I can hear from you.

Yours faithfully,

SILVERBRIDGE.

During the next day two despatches reached Lord Silverbridge, both of
them coming as he sat down to his solitary dinner. The first
consisted of a short but very civil note.

Messrs. Comfort and Criball present their compliments to
the Earl of Silverbridge.

Messrs. C. and C. beg to offer their apologies for
interfering, but desire to inform his Lordship that should
cash be wanting to any amount in consequence of the late
races, they will be happy to accommodate his Lordship
on most reasonable terms at a moment's notice, upon his
Lordship's single bond.

Lord Silverbridge may be sure of absolute secrecy.

Crasham Court, Crutched Friars, Sept. 15, 18--.

The other despatch was a telegram from Mr. Moreton saying that he
would be in Carlton Terrace by noon on the following day.

CHAPTER XLV

"There Shall Not Be Another Word About It"

Early in October the Duke was at Ma