George's lawyer had predicted. After
several adjourned hearings Copley was committed for trial, together with
his associates, and Aaron Phillips had the satisfaction of giving the
most damning evidence against the accused. Of Foster nothing whatever
had been heard and it was assumed he had got safely out of the country.
Copley's trial was set down to take place in June and in the meantime
some of his creditors had made him a bankrupt. The bubble was pricked.
Copley had nothing to gain by keeping up the pretence of being a man of
integrity and substance. He stood out now unabashed and unashamed, and
refused to give any information about his business affairs. Perhaps he
was looking forward to the time, some years hence, when on his release
from gaol he could blackmail Sir George Haredale.

But Sir George had already taken steps to obviate that. He had learnt
his lesson and was not likely to put himself in Copley's power again. A
proper statement of the relationship between Copley and himself had
been rendered by Sir George's lawyer and ample time had been given by
the Bankruptcy officials to pay the debt. Therefore Sir George could
look forward with easy mind to the momentous event at Epsom.

Everything went smoothly and Raffle pronounced the colt as fit to run
for a kingdom. The horse was established in the betting once more and at
that moment there were few more popular men in England than Sir George
Haredale. He was anxious, of course, for so much depended upon what was
to take place between now and next Wednesday, and Harry Fielden was not
very far from the spot; indeed, his feelings were like those of Sir
George. His whole fortune, too, depended upon the running of the colt.
About the only member of the party who was not unduly anxious was Raffle
himself. He went about his business with a knowing smile and refused to
discuss even the possibility of defeat.

"Bless you, sir," he said to Fielden two days before the race, "I can't
see what you've got to fret about. The race is in our pockets. It
wouldn't do to disappoint the people now, for Epsom is Epsom. But that
colt will just win from the start. There ain't going to be any risks,
because so much depends upon it. What a story it would make, Mr. Harry,
wouldn't it?"

Fielden nodded. They were standing in the Blenheim colt's stall admiring
the noble animal, which looked fit to race for his own life. There was
no sign of staleness about him. He was apparently traine