“Oh, because I ain't good enough to speak to,” answered the other scornfully. “Because I ain't a gentleman, forsooth, like your high and mighty family. But the fact is, sir, although I have got decent blood in my veins myself, I come from a country where we don't care _that_”--and he snapped his fingers with a noise equal to the crack of a whip--“for who is a man's father, unless the man himself is worth his salt.” “That, then, must have been the reason why this good-for-nothing ruffian left that country,” thought the captain; but he answered with humility: “Then, I fear, I should be giving up my best chance if I went there.” “Well,” answered the stranger, somewhat mollified, “you don't speak like one of them beastly aristocrats--that I will say--as though it were too much trouble to open their darned lips.” Mr Derrick himself did not speak like an aristocrat either; his voice, though rich in song, had in speech a strong northern burr, which rescued it from any such imputations. “Why, if a man in my country,” continued he, “should venture to warn another off his land--unless, of course, it was a mining claim--as Sir Richard Lisgard”---- “Mr Derrick,” interrupted the captain firmly, “I am sure that it is not the custom in any country in the world to abuse a man's brother to his face. Having said that much, I will add that, if you have received any rudeness from any one at the Abbey, I am sincerely sorry for it. It did not emanate from _me_. Mr Chifney here will give me a character so far.” “Master Walter is as civil-spoken and well-behaved a young gentleman as any in the county,” exclaimed the trainer warmly; “and I will go bail has never given you or any man offence. He has just stepped in, like you, to see 'the crack' on which he has a little money; and since I am not one of those who say: 'It is no use now a days to attempt to take in your enemies, and therefore your friends must suffer,' I have been giving him some advice.” “About _Manylaws?_” inquired the stranger suspiciously, turning sharp round upon the captain. The look of blank astonishment upon that gallant officer's face would have set at rest the doubts of a Pollaky. “It is not my habit to disclose my customer's secrets,” observed the trainer tartly; “although I may say that, with Master Walter, everything is as safe as wax.” “Is it so?” quoth Mr Derrick warmly; “then let him come with us and see the Black.--Only mind, Mr Walter Lisgard, I will not have that brother of yours bettered by a fourpenny-piece by anything you may see or hear to-day.” “My brother never bets upon any race,” answered the captain quietly; “so that promise is easily given.” “Then come along with me and Mr Chifney,” said the stranger, holding out his hairy hand in token of amity. “You've read a deal about that crack as I've just been looking at; but I dare say, now, you have never so much as heard of this same _Manylaws_.”