St Erth.  All the money goes to fellows who don’t know a horse from a haystack.

Canynge. [Profoundly] And care less.  Yes!  We want men racing to whom a horse means something.

Borring.  I thought the horse m-meant the same to everyone, General—­ chance to get the b-better of one’s neighbour.

Canynge. [With feeling] The horse is a noble animal, sir, as you’d know if you’d owed your life to them as often as I have.

Borring.  They always try to take mine, General.  I shall never belong to the noble f-fellowship of the horse.

St Erth. [Drily] Evidently.  Deal!

     As Borring begins to deal the door is opened and major Colford
     appears—­a lean and moustached cavalryman.

Borring.  Hallo, C-Colford.

Colford.  General!

     Something in the tone of his voice brings them all to a standstill.

Colford.  I want your advice.  Young De Levis in there [He points to the billiard-room from which he has just come] has started a blasphemous story—­

Canynge.  One moment.  Mr Borring, d’you mind—­

Colford.  It makes no odds, General.  Four of us in there heard him.  He’s saying it was Ronald Dancy robbed him down at WINSOR’s.  The fellow’s mad over losing the price of that filly now she’s won the Cambridgeshire.

Borring. [All ears] Dancy!  Great S-Scott!

Colford.  Dancy’s in the Club.  If he hadn’t been I’d have taken it on myself to wring the bounder’s neck.

     Winsor and Borring have risen.  St Erth alone remains seated.

Canynge. [After consulting st Erth with a look] Ask De Levis to be good enough to come in here.  Borring, you might see that Dancy doesn’t leave the Club.  We shall want him.  Don’t say anything to him, and use your tact to keep people off.

     Borring goes out, followed by Colford.  Winsor.  Result of hearing
     he was black-balled—­pretty slippy.

Canynge.  St Erth, I told you there was good reason when I asked you to back young De Levis.  Winsor and I knew of this insinuation; I wanted to keep his tongue quiet.  It’s just wild assertion; to have it bandied about was unfair to Dancy.  The duel used to keep people’s tongues in order.

St Erth.  H’m!  It never settled anything, except who could shoot straightest.

Colford. [Re-appearing] De Levis says he’s nothing to add to what he said to you before, on the subject.

Canynge.  Kindly tell him that if he wishes to remain a member of this Club he must account to the Committee for such a charge against a fellow-member.  Four of us are here, and form a quorum.