ue cause,
the consequences might be most injurious. These, and fifty such-like
scruples, warred within him, and so engaged his attention that he
actually heard not one word of all that "town gossip" which Norwood
was retailing for his amusement. At last, while following out his own
thoughts, George came to the resolution of finding out at once the
precise position in which Norwood stood, and to this end asked the last
news from Newmarket.

Norwood's coolness never forsook him at a question whose very suddenness
was somewhat awkward.

"Bad enough," said he, with an easy laugh. "We have all of us been 'hit
hard.' Knolesby has lost heavily. Burchester, too, has had a smasher;
and I myself have not escaped. In fact, George, the 'Legs' have had it
all their own way. I suppose you heard something about it out here?"

"Why, yes; there were reports--"

"Oh, hang reports, man! Never trust to old women's tales. And that
confounded fellow, Haggerstone, I 'm certain, has been spreading all
kinds of stories. But the facts are simple enough."

"I 'm heartily glad you say so; for, to tell you the truth, Norwood, my
father is one of the prejudiced about this affair, and I 'm dying to be
able to give him a full explanation of the whole."

"Ah, Sir Stafford, too, among the credulous!" said Norwood, slowly. "I
could scarcely have supposed so. No matter; only I did fancy that he
was not exactly the person to form hasty conclusions against any man's
character. However, you may tell him for, as for myself, I 'll not
condescend to explain to any one but you the thing is a very simple
one. There was a mare of Hopeton's, a Brockdon filly, entered for the
Slingsby, and a number of us agreed to 'go a heavy thing' upon her
against the field. A bold coup always, George, that backing against
the field. Never do it, my boy, and particularly when you 've a set of
rascally foreign Legs banded against you, Poles and Hungarian fellows,
George; the downiest coves ever you met, and who, in their confounded
jargon, can sell you before your own face. Nothing like John Bull, my
boy. Straight, frank, and open John forever! Hit him hard and he 'll hit
you again; but no treachery, no stab in the dark. Oh, no, no! The turf
in England was another thing before these Continental rascals came
amongst us. I was always against admitting them within the ring. I
black-balled a dozen of them at the Club. But see what perseverance
does; they're all in now. There's n