"As a mere matter of form, I understood you to say," put in Alfred, trembling. "I have obtained judgment upon it, nevertheless." "What for?" "So as to be ready," said Mr. Sheldrake coolly, "in case I find you are playing the double with me. It will be best for you to understand at once that I am in serious earnest. Miss Lizzie would not say many more uncivil things to me if she knew this. I suppose you couldn't say how much you owe me?" "I haven't kept an account." "It being no business of yours. Well, I have, feeling interested in it, naturally; and what between me and Con Stavely, the debt is as near three hundred pounds as possible. Is it convenient to you to settle this small account?" "You know it isn't," answered Alfred, with a groan; and added entreatingly, "If you will advance me what you promised for the City and Suburban, I shall be able to pay you a good lump after the race." "How if you lose?" "I can't lose I must win; I must! Even if I didn't do what I am going to do--even if I trusted entirely to chance--luck must turn. You have told me so yourself a dozen times. But I don't depend upon that." "How much do you want?" "Forty pounds;" and Alfred twined his fingers nervously. Indeed, it seemed to him, as it had seemed a dozen times in the course of the year gone by, that the result was a certainty, if he had only the money to back his opinion. "If I can but once get clear," he thought, not for the first time, "I'll never back another horse as long as I live--never, never!" It was not his debt to Mr. Sheldrake that pressed so heavily upon him; there was a sharper and more terrible sword hanging over him. "What horses would you back for this money, Alf?" Alfred, encouraged by a tinge of the old cordiality in Mr. Sheldrake's tone, answered confidently: "I would put ten pounds on Xanthus, and twenty pounds on Kingcraft." "And the other ten pounds?" "I want that to speculate with on the race-course on the day of the race." "No," said Mr. Sheldrake in a decided tone, "I can't consent to that. I shall give you no money in hand to play ducks and drakes with." "Well, then, I'll put it _all_ on Kingcraft and Xanthus--fifteen pounds on Xanthus, and twenty-five on Kingcraft." "What makes you fancy Kingcraft? Xanthus I know is good--all the papers speak up for him." "Didn't Kingcraft win the Derby?" cried Alfred excitedly. "I'm told that the horse has come back to his old form, and that he's certain to win. A man told me who knows all about it. The stable have been keeping it dark, and they're all going to put their money on. I shall be able to pay you every penny back, and I shall never know how to thank you enough. I've told Liz and Lily that no man ever had such a friend as you are to me, and I'll tell them again. Will you do it for me?" "Let me see. The odds about Kingcraft are----"