’Well, you may have them;—­that is, for two days.  I don’t know whether that fellow of mine will believe you.  He wouldn’t believe Grasslough, and told him so.  But Grasslough took them out of the stables.  That’s what somebody told me.’

‘You could write a line to your groom.’

’Oh my dear fellow, that is such a bore; I don’t think I could do that.  My fellow will believe you, because you and I have been pals.  I think I’ll have a little drop of curacoa before dinner.  Come along and try it.  It’ll give us an appetite.’

It was then nearly seven o’clock.  Nine hours afterwards the same two men, with two others—­...