edale into marrying you. Don't get wild. I
don't want to introduce the young lady's name more than I can help, but
I am bound to speak of her. You will find that she will hold out to the
end, and that, if need be, she won't object to leaving Haredale Park.
But Sir George will cut up rough when the time comes. He is chockful of
family pride. He is the sort of chap who is wedded to the family home,
and when the pinch comes you'll find him ready for anything. Of course,
he will make a fuss. He will ask you how you dare suggest such a thing
to him, but it will come right in the end."

Copley glanced contemptuously at the speaker.

"What are you talking about?" he exclaimed. "What are you driving at?
Do you take Sir George for an utter fool? Do you suppose that he is
likely to scratch a horse he has backed to win or lose everything he
has?"

"Well, why not? He backed the colt at a very long price, and I don't
suppose he has put down more than a thousand altogether. On the other
hand, he owes you at least forty. Suppose you ask him to pay that back
at once. Suppose you let him know that if he doesn't you will turn him
out of his house a mere beggar. Suppose, if he consent, you offer to
wipe out his debt and give him, say ten thousand pounds, the day after
the colt is scratched. You needn't do it now; you can wait a month. Then
you can put the screw on at once. He'll kick, jib, order you out of the
house, but he will knuckle under in the long run. If he doesn't, then
I'm a fool and know nothing about human nature. Why, the thing is so
easy and perfectly safe not a soul will know anything about it. The colt
pulls up lame one day at exercise, he is reported to be coughing, and
before the fools who back horses know what has happened the pen has been
put through the name of the favourite. You've got the game entirely in
your hands. Then we can get our commissions out all over the country and
make a fortune without a penn'orth of risk. By Jove! it makes me tremble
only to think of it. If the thing is properly worked, we should divide
half a million between us. Now, what have you got to say to that?
Doesn't it sound right?"

Copley brought his fist down upon the table.

"By gad," he exclaimed, "I'll do it, Foster!"

CHAPTER XIII

"AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN"

As most people are aware, the camp-followers of the turf are a large
body whose ways of earning a living are, to say the least of it,
peculiar. This noble arm