Much to Rupert Hansom's disgust, Banks declined to ride Ripon and accepted the mount on Tearaway. At first this seemed somewhat unfair, but Hansom had severely taken the jockey to task over his riding in the St. Leger, and Banks resented it, knowing he had done his best. "Tearaway is the best filly we've seen for years," he said, "and Ripon had no chance with her; you'll see how it is if she runs in the Cup." "Perhaps you'd like to ride her?" sneered Rupert. "I should. I will if I get the chance." His chance came sooner than he expected. Seeing Picton Woodridge on Thursday, before the last race, the jockey said, "Will Fred be well enough to ride your mare in the Cup, sir?" "No, he's not at all well, Dick. He's consumptive, I'm sorry to say." "Have you a jockey?" "Not at present." "Will you give me the mount?" "Are you not engaged to ride Ripon?" asked Picton, surprised. "No, there is no engagement, and I have fallen out with Mr. Hansom about the riding of his horse in the St. Leger," said Banks. "You are free to ride my mare?" asked Picton. "Yes." "Then you shall have the mount. I would sooner see you on her than any one, except Fred," said Picton. "Thank you, sir," said Banks, jubilant, and went off to tell Rupert Hansom, who said it was an infernal shame, and raved about it to his friends, calling Banks all sorts of names. "I don't see what you have to complain of," said Mrs. Elroy. "You said he rode a bad race in the St. Leger, jeeringly asked him if he'd like the mount on Tearaway in the Cup, when he replied he would. It appears he took you at your word and accepted the mount when it was offered him; I think he's on the winner." "Do you indeed?" he said crossly. "I hope if you back her you'll lose your money." "How very disagreeable you are," she said. "Men with diminutive minds always appear to lose control over their tempers, and forget their manners." Rupert Hansom found another jockey in Crosby, a very fair rider. There were seven runners for the Cup, fields had been stronger than usual at the meeting. Rita looked supremely happy. She knew what was coming; Picton had more than hinted at it. Before she left Haverton he would ask her to be his wife; she knew what her answer would be. She loved him, had done so from the first time they met, and she was quite sure he loved her. Dick Langford also guessed what was about to happen; it pleased him to contemplate Picton as a brother-in-law. "I'll give him The Rascal as a wedding present," he said to himself, laughing. Before they went to the races on Friday he said to Rita: "Picton's having a great week--the Leger, the Cup to-day, a wife before the week's out." She laughed as she replied: "That's a treble--better than his double on The Rascal." "You're worth the winning, Rita," he said kindly. "Wonder what I shall do without you." "Find a wife," she said. "Expect it will be compulsory; it is not good for a man to live alone," he answered.