even have been
disposed to speculate a sovereign or two, and the tramp might have been
in a sufficiently reckless mood to sell information at that price. The
thing must be looked into at once.

Foster sprawled in the library with a copy of the _Sportsman_ in his
hand and a cigarette in his mouth. He looked up carelessly at his
employer, but seeing there was something amiss put down the paper and
waited for Copley to speak.

"What has gone wrong?" he asked.

"Oh, everything," Copley said savagely. "Has a single thing gone
straight since the Mirst Park meeting? Here am I in a big house,
furnished regardless of expense, with scores of tradesmen tumbling over
one another to serve me, and yet I haven't a ten-pound note to call my
own. As if that was not bad enough, that blackguard Chaffey has turned
up here."

"I suppose he wants money," Foster asked.

"Well, that was the idea, no doubt. I didn't see him myself, but I
understand he was drunk and objectionable, and Field turned him out.
They had a bit of a scrimmage, and I hope Field gave the fellow a
lesson. At any rate, he went off quietly in the end."

"Then why worry?" Foster said.

"Why worry? What a question! I forgot to tell you the worst. Chaffey
came here demanding money. He said if I had been at home he could have
got as much as he wanted. Imagine what Field must have thought. He would
conclude that I was under obligations to the scamp, but, as you know, I
haven't exchanged a dozen words with him. Everything has been done
through you, and I must say I can't congratulate you on your choice."

"You never do when things go wrong," Foster retorted. "Would you have
had me employ a gentleman? Did you want a man of intelligence, who would
have asked many questions of himself. Chaffey is the man for us. But you
are making a great fuss about nothing."

"Well, what do you think of this? Chaffey told Field that if he had any
more of this sort of thing I could get somebody else to monkey with my
fruit baskets in Covent Garden. Ah, I thought you would change your
tune. Imagine a remark like that in a sporting public-house! Scores of
people would smell a rat instantly. They would get on the track of
money-making, especially if Chaffey happened to mention my name in
connexion with the affair. If they only found him with money and plied
him with drink, he would tell them all he knew."

"Which is precious little," Foster said coolly, as he lighted a fresh
cigarette. "C