ould be sadly neglected."

"Is Mr. Chesney not a good business man?" asked Ella.

"Not according to Mr. Fraser."

Ella was rather disappointed she had not met Alan Chesney since her
stay at The Forest. She wondered why he did not call; Eve told her he
often came.

Duncan Fraser explained where he had been and pronounced in favor of
Ella Hallam.

"By Jove! I forgot all about her being at The Forest," said Alan. "I
met her in Derby week, a jolly girl; I daresay she improves on
acquaintance."

"She evidently did not make much of an impression on you," said Duncan
smiling.

"I wonder how long she will stay?" said Alan, half to himself.

"I think she said she was going to London to meet her father."

"He's bringing one or two horses from Australia; he has a great opinion
of them; I must try and convince him ours are better."

"Strange how some men are so fascinated by horses," said Fraser.

"You care nothing about them?" said Alan, with a tinge of contempt in
his voice.

"No, they have never interested me; perhaps it is because I never had
any spare time for them; I've been a worker all my life."

"You despise racing men?"

"Oh no; I think some of them are uncommonly sharp," said Duncan.

"They are too sharp sometimes," laughed Alan.

CHAPTER IX

THE MAN UNDER THE LAMP

"Sorry I have not called before," said Alan, as he shook hands with
Ella Hallam, "but by way of a change I have been busy."

"I thought you were always busy," she replied.

"On the contrary, I am afraid I neglect my duties sometimes, but then I
have such an excellent manager."

"Mr. Fraser?"

"Yes. You have met him; what do you think of him?" asked Alan.

"I like him. He struck me as a man of strong character," she answered.

"He is. He has a wonderful grasp of everything connected with the
firm," said Alan.

Eve entered the room. She said:

"I thought you had forgotten I lived at The Forest."

Alan laughed.

"I'm not likely to forget that," he said.

"My father arrives next week," said Ella. "I have written to him; he
will get the letter at Naples. I told him you were anxious to test the
merits of his horses."

"He is coming here," said Eve. "I thought it would be nice for Ella to
welcome him at The Forest."

"And I shall be delighted to show him round; he will be interested in
my stud," said Alan.

"I hear it is one of the best in England," said Ella.

"I think it compares favorably with most of t