Which company consisted usually, at the time of Honor’s stay, but of one visitor--_the_ visitor whom, for reasons best known to himself, Colonel Norcott was ever on the watch to conciliate and flatter. Arthur Vavasour’s appearance in Stanwick-street was usually so timed that his host’s horses--animals chiefly devoted at that period to the use of his daughter--should be walking up and down before the house in readiness for Mrs. Beacham’s appearance. On the eventful Tuesday morning--the Tuesday in Epsom holiday week--which was hereafter to be a strongly marked one in Honor Beacham’s memory, Colonel Norcott, departing somewhat from his accustomed habits, was early astir--so early that at a little after eleven he might have been seen, his cigar between his lips, standing on the steps of the house he occupied, and evidently waiting for some person whose coming was longer delayed than the Colonel found altogether agreeable. At last, walking briskly round a corner, with a very preoccupied expression of countenance, and swinging in the air a light riding-whip with the manner of one lost in thought, Arthur Vavasour, the individual expected by Honor’s impatient parent, appeared in sight. “By George! you’re late,” Colonel Norcott said, pulling out his watch and displaying it reproachfully before his friend. “I haven’t more than five minutes to spare. Five? I haven’t got three! But if you’ve anything you want particularly to say to me, I--” “You will wait--you _must_ wait,” Arthur broke in imperiously. “I tell you what, Colonel Norcott, I can’t stand the bother and the wear and tear of this any longer; Rough Diamond, as _we_ know, is all right again, and the odds are--” “Five to four on the favourite! We all know that. What then?” and Fred replaced his cigar between his lips, and smoked away with a _nonchalance_ which, to an excited man, was not a little provoking. “What then? Why, simply this: I’d rather sell the horse, upon my soul I would, than go on in this way. If Rough Diamond loses--” “Well, if he does?” “Nonsense, man, what’s the use of asking? you know nearly as much of my affairs as I do. You know how devilishly I’m dipped, and how everything depends on my horse winning the Derby to-morrow.” “Well, and he will win it. Don’t be a fool. I mean don’t be out of heart. I’m sure if I thought there were the ghost of a chance against him, I should be pretty considerably down in the mouth too. Why, man, I’ve backed the favourite with every farthing I’m worth, and--”