"You don't say so! Now I should have thought you'd been the head
footman, or something of that kind," said Brack.
"You are no judge of men," said Rose.
"I'd never mistake you for one," growled Brack.
When they were in the paddock Rose was anxious to get rid of him, but
he had his orders, and must wait until Mr. Woodridge saw them.
Brack attracted attention; he was a strange bird in the midst of
this gayly plumaged crowd, but he was quite at home, unaware he was a
subject of observation.
At last Picton Woodridge saw him and came up.
"Well, Brack, I am glad you came," he said as he shook hands. "I hope
Rose looked after you."
"He did very well. He's not a jovial mate, a trifle stuck up and so
on, gives himself airs; expect he's considered a decent sort in his
own circle--in the servants' hall," said Brack.
Picton caught sight of Rose's face and burst out laughing.
"Speaks his mind, eh, Rose?" he said. "You may leave us."
"He's a rum 'un," said Brack. "What is he?"
"My butler; I thought I had better send him for you in case you were
undecided whether to come. I am glad you are here; and, Brack, I have
a caution to give you. No one knows my brother, he is so changed. If
you recognize him, say nothing--it would be dangerous."
"I'll be dumb, never fear," said Brack. "I thank you for giving me
this treat; it's a long time since I saw t'Leger run. Your man tells
me Tearaway will win."
"I feel certain of it. You had better put a little on her at twenty to
one," said Picton.
"I will, and thank you. It was kind to give me ten pounds."
"You deserve it, and you shall have more, Brack. If my filly wins
to-day you shall have a hundred pounds and a new boat."
"Good Lord!" exclaimed Brack. "A hundred pounds! It's as much as I've
saved all the time I've been in Torquay--and a new boat, it's too
much, far too much."
"No, it isn't. Remember what you risked for us."
"That's him, isn't it?" said Brack, pointing to Hector, who had his
back to them. "I recognize his build."
"I'm glad no one else has," said Picton. "Yes, that's he."
Hector, turning round, saw Brack, came up, and spoke to him. Picton
said: "This is Mr. Rolfe, William Rolfe, you understand?"
Brack nodded as he said: "He's changed. I'd hardly have known his
face."
It was before the second race that Hector met Lenise Elroy in the
paddock with her friends. She was not present on the first day and,
strange to say, he missed her society. It startled him to recognize
this. Surely he was not falling into her toils, coming under her
spell, for the second time, and after all he had suffered through her!
Of course not; it was because of the revenge burning in him that he
was disappointed. How beautiful she was, and how gracefully she walked
across the paddock; she was perfectly dressed, expensively, but in
good taste. She was recognized by many people, some of whom knew her
past, and looked askance at her.
Hector went toward her. She saw him and a bright smile of welcome lit
up her face.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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