England -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
"Charmed to meet the daughter of my old friend," he said, "charmed. Ah,
those were pleasant days when one had youth and strength and a banking
account which appeared to be inexhaustible. Now I deem myself fortunate
if I can steal a day off occasionally to get down to a suburban
racecourse. Let me present you to my daughter. My dear Alice----"
"But I know her already," May Haredale cried. "We were at school
together. I had no idea that my father and yours knew one another. I am
so pleased to see you again. Father, Alice Carden was my greatest friend
all the years I was at Eastbourne. We parted promising to write to one
another regularly, but somehow or another we have never corresponded.
But now that I have met you I won't lose sight of you any more. Major
Carden, you really must let Alice come and stay at Haredale Park with
me. I want her for a long visit."
Carden professed himself to be delighted, and this in all sincerity. He
began to see visions of a snug and comfortable time, away from dingy
lodgings and vilely-cooked food to which he had never become accustomed.
The two girls paired off, and the Major strolled towards the paddock
gates, for he had noticed Phillips there, evidently waiting for a chance
to speak to him.
"Got any instructions?" the Major asked.
"Nothing fresh," Phillips explained. "I want you to do exactly as I
asked you, and if you can manage it this evening, after you get back to
town, so much the better. I have written my address on the back of this
card, and it is possible I may be here for two or three days longer. I
want you to find out what wagering there was to big money with Selwyn at
the Post Club to-day, and wire to the address on this card. It is more
than probable that, before the week is out, I may be able to put a good
thing in your way. I suppose I can come round and see you whenever I
like."
The Major thought that would be all right. It would be just as well,
perhaps, to get his daughter out of the way. With diplomacy he might
contrive to expedite the invitation to Haredale Park, so that he could
have the ground clear without fear of interruption. He returned to the
place where his daughter was waiting for him.
At a sign from Phillips, Fielden came forward.
"Well," he asked, "how are you getting on?"
"Splendidly," Phillips replied. "I have been far more fortunate than I
anticipated. We will get some fun out of Copley and Foster yet. From
your point of view I daresay you may think I am wrong. But I mean to
make money out of this. I will expose Copley and fill my purse at the
same time. You wonder what I am driving at? Can you manage to stay here
over to-morrow?"
"I think so," Fielden said.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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