’As to backing, Silverbridge, do not you think we had better have done with that?’ This was hardly in a tone of reproach, with something even of banter in it; and as the question was asked the Duke was smiling.  But in a moment all that sense of joyousness which the young man had felt in singing his brother’s praises was expelled.  His face fell, and he stood before his father almost like a culprit.  ‘We might as well have it out about his racing,’ said the Duke.  ’Something has to be said about it.  You have lost an enormous sum of money.’  The Duke’s tone in saying this became terribly severe.  Such at least was its sound in his son’s ears.  He did not mean to be severe.

But when he did speak of that which displeased him his voice naturally assumed that tone of indignation with which in days of yore he had been wont to denounce the public extravagance of his opponents in the House of Commons.  The father paused, but the son could not speak at the moment.  ‘And worse than that,’ continued the Duke; ’you have lost it in as bad company as you could have found had you picked all England through.’

’Mr Lupton, and Sir Henry Playfair, and Lord Stirling were in the room when the bets were made.’

‘Were the gentlemen you name concerned with Major Tifto?’

‘No, sir.’

’Who can tell with whom he may be in a room?  Though rooms of that kind are, I think, best avoided.’  Then the Duke paused again, but Silverbridge was now sobbing so that he could hardly speak.  ’I am sorry that you should be so grieved,’ continued the father, ’but such delights cannot, I think, lead to much real joy.’

‘It is for you, sir,’ said the son, rubbing his eyes with the hand which supported his head.

‘My grief in the matter might soon be cured.’

‘How shall I cure it?  I will do anything to cure it.’

‘Let Major Tifto and the horses go.’

‘They are gone,’ said Silverbridge energetically, jumping from his chair as he spoke.  ’I will never own a horse again, or a part of a horse.  I will have nothing more to do with races.  You will believe me?’

‘I will believe anything that you tell me.’

‘I won’t say I will not go to another race, because—­’

’No; no.  I would not have you hamper yourself.  Nor shall you bind yourself by any further promises.  You have done with racing.’

‘Indeed, indeed I have, sir.’

Then the father came up to the son and put his arm round the young man’s shoulders and embraced him.  ‘Of course it made me unhappy.’

‘I knew it would.’

’But if you are cured of this evil, the money is nothing.  What is all for but for you and your brother and sister?  It was a large sum, but that shall not grieve me.  The thing itself is so dangerous that if with that much of a loss we can escape, I will think that we have made not a bad market.  Who owns the horse now?’

‘The horse shall be sold.’