time for
writing. Eve knew this and was always glad of a few lines. He came
home at intervals for a few days at a time.

Eve loved him and he adored her. Since their marriage he discovered
new and surprising traits in her and wondered how he had been so blind
as to risk losing her by his delay in asking her to be his wife.

Bernard Hallam and Ella were still at The Forest.

"When am I going back to Australia?" said Mr. Hallam in answer to
Alan's question. "I cannot tell you, for I don't know. It's not safe.
I have no desire to see how a torpedo works at near quarters. I am
much safer here, and The Forest is a delightful place. There's another
thing, I want my revenge."

Alan laughed as he said:

"Another couple of races with Rainstorm and Southerly Buster?"

"That's it. They were on a level last time; you only just got home
with your pair."

"Bandmaster has probably lost some of his paces," said Alan.

"Didn't look like it when you won the Steeplechase on him," answered
Mr. Hallam.

"By Jove, that must have been a race!" exclaimed Alan.

"It was. Don't you recollect much about it?"

"Can't say I do," replied Alan, with a puzzled expression.

"It's funny; you must have been in a queer state."

"I was. I say, Hallam, I believe I went off my head for a bit," said
Alan.

"I won't contradict you, but the head's all right now," said Mr. Hallam.

Fred Skane was consulted. He thought Bandmaster quite equal to
tackling Rainstorm again, and The Duke doing the same by Southerly
Buster. Both would be ready for the next Newmarket meeting if the
matches could be included in the program.

Alan communicated with the Jockey Club officials and there was no
difficulty about it; the former matches proved such an attraction they
were sure to be an addition to the card.

In due course the matches came off and on this occasion honors were
divided, for Bandmaster beat Rainstorm, and Southerly Buster beat The
Duke. Mr. Hallam would have been more pleased had Rainstorm won, for
he was his favorite, but Alan was delighted at Bandmaster's success.

Duncan Fraser was a frequent visitor at Trent Park and always went
across to The Forest during his stay.

Eve said she was "watching developments," but Alan laughingly answered
that, "Fraser is not a marrying man; he's in love with the brewery,
which is much more prosaic."

"We shall see," said Eve; "I'm open to support Ella against business."

Captain Newport, in