Part 14 (1/2)
The course was now looking its best. Long lines of glittering motors and smart carriages had joined their humbler brethren of traps and omnibuses. The seats and stands were filled with gaily-dressed people; women in their furs, velvets and exquisite hats, giving the impression from a distance of a huge living flower garden.
On the appearance of Adrien Leroy, the excitement reached its height, for he was known to everybody by name and sight, and was, moreover, the owner of the favourite.
The carriage containing Lord Barminster had been drawn up as near the course as possible, and as far from the crowd as s.p.a.ce would permit; for his lords.h.i.+p invariably refused to mix with any concourse of people, even when they consisted of his own order.
Adrien, having seen that he was comfortable, escorted the ladies down to their seats on the grand stand; then he betook himself to the paddock, where ”King Cole” had just been saddled.
At the sound of the loved voice the beautiful animal turned his head, with a whinny of delight. Then, as the two people he disliked with every fibre of his being approached him--Jasper Vermont and Peac.o.c.k, the jockey--he laid his ears back with every appearance of alarm and distrust. It seemed as if his animal instincts were keener than those of his master.
Leroy stroked the soft nose of the race-horse, while Jasper pa.s.sed his hand admiringly over the satiny neck.
”Beautiful as a daisy,” he exclaimed, and as Mr. Vermont would hardly have recognised that humble flower if he had seen it, this was rather qualified praise.
”Too long in the leg,” murmured a man whom Jasper had previously introduced as a sporting friend of his.
Adrien turned round and surveyed the speaker calmly for a moment.
”Too leggy, you think, do you? I'll lay two to one upon them.”
”Done,” said the man sharply. ”Hundreds or thousands?”
”Thousands,” said Adrien quietly.
Jasper touched him on the arm and whispered, in gentle remonstrance:
”Steady, old chap, there's pots of money on him as it is. Don't you think it would be as well--”
”Make it thousands,” interrupted Adrien, almost haughtily, as he turned on his heel.
The man booked the bet, bowed to Vermont, as to an utter stranger, and the two gentlemen pa.s.sed to the weighing-seat. Peac.o.c.k had already gone to don his riding-clothes, and without waiting to see him again, Adrien and his companion returned to the grand stand. Here Leroy stopped to speak to Lady Merivale, who, with her sister, the Marchioness of Caine, had motored down from London to witness the race.
The marchioness was a lady with a pa.s.sion for bridge, and an intense admiration for Adrien Leroy.
”You are quite sure your horse, that pretty creature with the long neck, is going to win?” she inquired, as he stood by her chair.
Her sister, Lady Merivale, looked up mockingly.
”Of course he's going to win, Alicia. Did not Lady Constance Tremaine say so? Surely _she_ ought to know!”
Leroy did not appear to notice the jealous sarcasm of this speech.
”I hope he will win,” he said gravely. ”Nothing is certain in this world, and race-horses are said to be as fickle as your s.e.x, dear lady.”
This was a mild thrust at Lady Merivale; but she only smiled sweetly in response. ”Still, I think you may safely bet on the 'King'; he's in fine form.” Then he turned to his cousin. ”Here is your beau cavalier, Constance,” he said, almost jealously, as Jasper Vermont came leisurely up the steps of the grand stand; then, with a swift glance at the girl which was not lost upon Lady Merivale, he went down once more to his father.
”The bell is about to ring now,” he said. ”Are you sure you can see?”
”Quite sure,” replied Lord Barminster curtly. ”How is the horse?”
”In splendid form, sir,” Adrien answered cheerfully. ”I should think it is a safe thing. If you are quite all right, I'll get back to the others now, before the crush begins.”
His father nodded, and the young man made his way back to the stand.