shot into his mind and he took comfort from it.

"I think I know where to find her," he said. "But it may take me a few
days and, meanwhile, you had better let it be known that May has gone
away on a visit. We will assume that she is staying with Miss Carden for
the present. I need not detain you longer. You will know what to do when
Copley turns up to ascertain why the Blenheim colt has not been
scratched. For obvious reasons we won't make the discovery public just
yet; in fact, I see no reason why it should be made public at all. We
can trust May, and I am sure we can trust Raffle, though you will have
to tell Copley the truth. Still, as he will be in other hands before
long, nothing he can say or do will matter much. I am going up to London
and shall be greatly surprised if, when I come back, I don't bring you
news of May."

Fielden took his departure, leaving Sir George to his own troubled
thoughts. He was properly ashamed of himself. He knew what a humiliating
figure he had cut. He knew how two people, whose opinions he valued
highly, despised him. Yet, in spite of everything, himself included, he
was glad to know that he would be compelled to keep faith with the
public. He was glad to know that within a few days Copley would have no
further power to harm him. He had known all along, juggle with his
conscience as he might, that old Raffle had been perfectly correct in
regard to the colt. Notwithstanding the folly of that appearance at
Mirst Park, the colt was not so lame as he had made out and in a week or
two would be all right again. At the present moment if he risked a
thousand or two, there was almost absolute certainty he would get it
back fifty-fold at the great Epsom meeting. As Sir George pondered the
situation, his mind was equally divided between shame and exultation. He
did not fail to see his conduct in its proper light, nor did he fail to
see an honourable way out, with credit to himself and a good many
thousands in his pocket. He sat thinking until it was time for his
solitary dinner. He had proved everything to his satisfaction before he
returned to the library for a cigar. He would have given anything to
have had May back again, for once she was under his roof, the way looked
perfectly clear. He was still weighing the pros and cons when Copley
strode angrily into the library.

He had entered unannounced and looked at Sir George with the light of
battle in his eye. He stood an imposing, bullying fi