e did not care to part with an old favorite, but
it was folly to refuse such an offer when prospects, on looking ahead,
were not favorable to breeders. He decided to write to Braund and ask
if he were still inclined to make his offer for the horse. He did so,
and had not long to wait for a reply.

Valentine Braund came to Trent Park next day and said he was ready to
pay the money and take Mameluke over when he had made arrangements to
ship him to New York. The bargain was concluded and, under the
circumstances, Alan thought he could do no better than invite the
purchaser to stay a few days with him. This Braund readily agreed to,
and Alan found him a pleasant companion.

Valentine Braund was the head of an American steel trust, and a man of
many millions. Thirty thousand pounds for a horse, or for anything he
wanted, mattered little to him. A self-made man, he had worked up from
a humble position until he piled up wealth beyond his most sanguine
dreams. His energies were unbounded, he possessed a never-ending flow
of animal spirits, his confidence in himself was immense, he talked and
expressed his opinions freely.

Alan could not help liking the man although his manners were hardly to
his taste. Braund did not brag, but it was easy to see that he
considered money a passport to any society. He was good-looking
although his features were somewhat coarse, and his abrupt manner of
speaking might have offended some fastidious people.

Eve Berkeley heard the American was at Trent Park; Alan had already
described him to her, also told her of his offer for Mameluke. She was
interested, thought she would like to meet him. She invited Alan to
bring him to The Forest. He mentioned it to Braund, who was eager to
accept, and accordingly they went.

Valentine thought American women "licked creation," and said so most
emphatically, but when he saw Eve Berkeley he was astonished at her
beauty, and acknowledged to himself that he had never seen a woman to
beat her, "not even in New York." Alan was amused at his open
admiration of Eve; he laughed when Braund said:

"What a woman, splendid! She's a tip-top beauty; she'd create a
sensation in New York."

"I thought you'd like her," said Alan.

"Like her! Good heavens, she's past liking, miles beyond it; she's
adorable."

"And her friend, Miss Hallam?" asked Alan.

"A beauty, but not the equal of Miss Berkeley, not by a long way," said
Braund.

This conversati