Volume I Part 13 (1/2)
”I can't follow your plans about this race down here, though,” said his companion, a younger man, who seemed to hold the first speaker in great awe despite his confessions of failure. ”Don't you say that this young Blankney's horse can't get the distance?”
”I do. He never was much good, I 'ear; never won nothing, though he's run in two or three hurdle-races; and since Phil Kelly's been preparing of 'im for this race he's near about broke down. His legs swell up like bolsters after his gallops; and he can't get three miles at all, I don't believe, without he's pulled up and let lean agin something on the journey to rest hisself.”
”And yet you're backing him?”
”And yet I'm backing of him.”
”This young Peyton's mare can't be worse?” said the younger man, interrogatively.
”That mare, it's my belief, would be fancied for the Grand National if she was entered, and some of the swells saw 'er. She's a real good 'un!” replied the man with the collar.
”I see. You've got at her jockey. You're an artful one, you are.”
As the jockey to whom they alluded, I was naturally much interested.
”No, I ain't done that, neither. He's a gentleman, and it's no use talkin' to such as 'im. They ain't got the sense to take up a good thing when they see it--though, for the matter o' that, most of the perfessionals is as bad as the gentlemen. All's fair in love and war,”
says I; ”and this 'ere's war.”
”Does Blankney know how bad his horse is?”
”No, bless yer! That ain't Phil Kelly's game.” (Kelly was, I knew, the man who had charge of my opponent's horse.)
”Well, then, just explain, will you; for _I_ can't see.”
From the recesses of his garment the elder man pulled out a short stick about fifteen inches in length, at the end of which was a loop of string; and from another pocket he produced a small paper parcel.
”D'yer know what that is? That's a 'twitch.' D'yer know what that is?
That's medicine. I love this 'ere young feller's mare so much I'm a-goin' to give it some nicey med'cine myself; and this is the right stuff. I've been up to the 'ouse to-day, and can find my way into the stable to-night when it's all quiet. Just slip this loop over 'er lip, and she'll open 'er mouth. Down goes the pill, and as it goes down the money goes into my pocket. Them officer fellers and their friends have been backing Blankney's 'orse; but Phil Kelly will take care that they hear at the last moment that he's no good. Then they'll rush to lay odds on the mare--and the mare won't win.”
They laughed, and nudged each other in the side, and I felt a mighty temptation to rush into the room and nudge their heads with my fist.
Little Lady's delicate lips, which Nelly had so often petted, to be desecrated by the touch of such villains as these!
While struggling to restrain myself a hand was laid on my shoulders, and, turning round, I saw Smithers. We proceeded to the stable; and I hastily recounted to him what had happened, and what I had heard, as he examined the mare by the aid of a bull's-eye lantern. He pa.s.sed his hand very carefully over her, whilst I looked on with anxious eyes.
”She's knocked a bit of skin off here, you see.” He pointed to a place a little below her knee, and drawing a small box from his pocket, anointed the leg. ”But she's all right. All right, ain't you, old lady?” he said, patting her; and his cheerful tone convinced me that he was satisfied. ”We'll lead her home. I'll go with you, sir; and it's easy to take means to prevent any games to-night.”
When we reached home the doctor was there, and p.r.o.nounced that, with the exception of a sprained ankle, Nelly had sustained no injury.
Rejoicing exceedingly, we proceeded to the stable; Heathfield, who heard my story, and who was delighted at the prospect of some fun, asking permission to accompany us.
”Collars” had doubtless surveyed the premises carefully, for he arrived about eleven o'clock, and clambered quietly and skilfully into the hayloft above the stable, after convincing himself that all was quiet inside. He opened the trap-door, and down came a foot and leg, feeling about to find a resting-place on the part.i.tion which divided Little Lady's loose box from the other stalls. Bertie and I took hold of the leg, and a.s.sisted him down, to his intense astonishment; while Heathfield and a groom gave chase to, and ultimately captured his friend, the watcher on the threshold.
”If I'm well enough to do _anything_ I'm well enough to lie on the sofa; and there's really _no_ difference between a sofa and an easy-chair--if my foot is resting--and I'm sure the carriage is _easier_ than any chair; and it can't matter about my foot being an inch or two higher or lower--and as for shaking, that's all nonsense.
It's very unkind _indeed_ of you not to want to take me; and if you won't, directly you've gone I'll get up, and walk about, _and stamp_!”
Thus Nelly, in answer to advice that she should remain at home. How it ended may easily be guessed; and though we tried to be dignified, as we drove along, to punish her for her wilfulness, her pathetic little expressions of sorrow that she should ”fall down, and hurt herself, and be such a trouble to everybody,” and child-like a.s.surances that she would ”not do it again,” soon made us smile, and forget our half-pretended displeasure. So with the aunt to take care of her, in case Bertie and I were insufficient, we reached the course.