England -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
"Very well," he said. "I daresay it can be managed. I will see you on
the course this afternoon and let you know what my address is. If you
are discreet and cautious over this little matter there is a fair sum of
money in it for you. You can drop me a note to-night, because there is
no pressing hurry, and you can get the information this evening or early
to-morrow. What you have to do is to go round to the Post Club and find
out all the heavy bets which were made there with Selwyn in connexion
with to-day's racing at Mirst Park. You must let me know with whom the
bets were made and who made them. I think that is all. But I shall see
you on the course later, and if anything crops up in the meantime I
shall let you know."
There was nothing to prevent Phillips from making his way to Mirst Park.
Half an hour later he took train from Waterloo and, arrived at his
destination, proceeded to look out for lodgings. He had his own reasons
for preferring rooms to an hotel. He needed to keep himself as quiet as
possible. This matter satisfactorily settled, he turned his steps to the
course, which was as yet practically deserted. There was little to
indicate that a race meeting was in progress, excepting the shows and
roundabouts and booths outside the stands and paddocks. There were the
usual loafers picnicking on the grass, the usual litter of torn
betting-tickets and papers scattered far and wide. Phillips passed
along, looking eagerly about him. He wanted somebody who could give him
certain information. He stood on the centre of the course, some four or
five hundred yards from the ring. He appeared to be admiring the
landscape, which was pleasant enough under the brilliant sunshine,
though this was interspersed now and then by ominous-looking clouds
which seemed to threaten snow later.
As most people know, Mirst Park course is situated in a kind of theatre,
with rising ground behind the stands, so that it is possible for
everybody to obtain a perfect view of a race from start to finish.
Peeping out of the trees here and there were a few good-class houses,
one of which, standing higher than the rest, towered over the top of the
grand stand. There was the suggestion of a smile on Phillips' face as he
adjusted his racing-glasses and made a close inspection of the house in
question. He could see that it possessed a flat roof with a parapet
around it. Phillips was still intent upon his examination when a
policeman with a fine air of detachment strolled by.
"The best natural course I have ever seen," Phillips said with
enthusiasm. "Have you got many like this in these parts, officer?"
"Not that I know of," the policeman said. "I suppose you have never been
here before."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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