“Why, Dot—­how can you go on so?  I only thought I was taking a leaf out of your book, by being careful to make the best bargain I could.”

“Well, as I was saying—­I would run the horses to the best advantage—­especially Brien, for the Derby:  by doing so, my whole book would be upset:  I should have to bet all round again—­and, very likely, not be able to get the bets I want.  I could not do this without a very strong interest in the horse.  Besides, you remember that I should have to go over with him to England myself, and that I should be obliged to be in England a great deal at a time when my own business would require me here.”

“My dear fellow,” said Frank, “you’re going on as though it were necessary to defend yourself.  I never accused you of anything.”

“Never mind whether you did or no.  You understand me now:  if it will suit you, you can take my offer, but I should be glad to know at once.”

While this conversation was going on, the two young men had left the house, and sauntered out into Blake’s stud-yard.  Here were his stables, where he kept such horses as were not actually in the trainer’s hands—­and a large assortment of aged hunters, celebrated timber-jumpers, brood mares, thoroughbred fillies, cock-tailed colts, and promising foals.  They were immediately joined by Blake’s stud groom, who came on business intent, to request a few words with his master; which meant that Lord Ballindine was to retreat, as it was full time for his friend to proceed to his regular day’s work.  Blake’s groom was a very different person in appearance, from the sort of servant in the possession of which the fashionable owner of two or three horses usually rejoices.  He had no diminutive top boots; no loose brown breeches, buttoned low beneath the knee; no elongated waistcoat with capacious pockets; no dandy coat with remarkably short tail.  He was a very ugly man of about fifty, named John Bottom, dressed somewhat like a seedy gentleman; but he understood his business well, and did it; and was sufficiently wise to know that he served his own pocket best, in the long run, by being true to his master, and by resisting the numerous tempting offers which were made to him by denizens of the turf to play foul with his master’s horses.  He was, therefore, a treasure to Blake; and he knew it, and valued himself accordingly.

“Well, John,” said his master, “I suppose I must desert Lord Ballindine again, and obey your summons.  Your few words will last nearly till dinner, I suppose?”

“Why, there is a few things, to be sure, ’ll be the better for being talked over a bit, as his lordship knows well enough.  I wish we’d as crack a nag in our stables, as his lordship.”

“Maybe we may, some day; one down and another come on, you know; as the butcher-boy said.”

“At any rate, your horses don’t want bottom” said Frank.

He—­he—­he! laughed John, or rather tried to do so.  He had laughed at that joke a thousand times; and, in the best of humours, he wasn’t a merry man.