n these two ruffians tried to
murder Phillips. Indirectly they nearly murdered me. Phillips came back
to England and sought me out. If he thought it worth while he could put
the police on the track of Copley and Foster and they would be certain
of penal servitude. But Phillips has other views. He has been following
up these two men like a sleuth-hound and you may take my word for it
that within a few days both Copley and Foster will be arrested in
connection with one of the biggest turf frauds of recent years. Oh, I
know what I am talking about."

"Bless me!" Sir George cried, "is this true?"

"Absolutely. I know about the whole thing. I know how the scheme has
been worked and could put my hand upon the confederates at the present
moment. But you will see for yourself before the week is out. You must
not say a word of this to a living soul, and if you meet Copley during
the next day or two I will ask you to behave towards him as if he were
still a friend. Now you see the kind of man who has you in his toils.
Simply because Copley has a powerful hold on you, you have promised to
draw the pen through the name of the Blenheim colt. I won't unduly blame
you, Sir George; no man knows how weak he is till he is face to face
with a great trouble and a great temptation. Was not that the situation?
Copley is in a position to turn you out of Haredale Park. He offers to
cancel the debt if you will scratch the colt. At that moment the colt
falls providentially lame. You can oblige him without a soul being any
the wiser, and even gain popular applause over it, and make a fortune
out of it by working it the right way."

"Not a penny," Sir George said emphatically.

"Well, I am glad to hear you say that. At the same time, I can't forget
what you were willing to do. At any rate, I am preventing you from
something in the nature of a crime. You can't interfere with my
property, but you can refuse to carry out what Copley desires and defy
him to do his worst. You are safe from him, and in future your daughter
will have no occasion to be ashamed of you."

CHAPTER XXXVIII

LOOSENING THE GRIP

Fielden's last thrust went home. Sir George fairly winced and the red of
shame flushed his face. Never in the course of his life had anybody ever
spoken to him like this before. And never did he feel less able to
resist the reproach.

"You are going too far," was all he could say.

"Indeed, I have no wish to," Fielden exclaimed. "I on