Ralph Derrick had “put the pot on” his _Many Laws_, and would be a millionaire if he won; but Walter Lisgard had put more than the pot. If the French colours did not shew in front at the winning-post, the captain, still to use the elegant metaphor of the sporting fraternity, would be in Queer Street. So infatuated had the young man grown, that he had absolutely hedged even that one bet which insured him a thousand pounds in case _The King_ should win the race. Notwithstanding his coyness in accepting the first offer of a loan from his uncultivated friend, he had borrowed of him twice since, in each case giving his I.O.U., whereby he endeavoured to persuade himself that he was liquidating all obligation; yet, unless he considered his mère autograph was worth the sums for which it was pledged, I know not how he succeeded in this. For if _Menelaus_ did not happen to win, he not only would not have enough to discharge his debts of honour for nearly two years--when he would come into possession of his patrimony of five thousand pounds--but even a great portion of _that_ would be bespoken. Thus, of course, he had placed himself, through mère greed, in a most unpleasant position; but at the same time it must be allowed that he had yielded to a great temptation, such as would probably have made the mouth of any financier water, had the opportunity offered in his particular line; for with the exception of mère outsiders, _The King_ had beaten every horse that was to contend with him on the morrow; and _Menelaus_, to Walter's certain knowledge, had beaten _The King_.