"Oh, stop! for Heaven's sake stop!" exclaimed the captain; "you'll be the death of me, you really will!" Silence followed for a moment, and the captain, conquering his mirth, went on: "I don't know if any of you ladies go in for horse-racing. Probably not; I'm sure Miss Grey doesn't. Well, this morning I heard that a horse of mine which is running in a race to-day had done an exceptionally and quite unexpectedly good trial--I mean, had proved a far faster runner than we had supposed. In fact, there was little doubt that he would win the race. Sometimes, ladies, I am wicked enough to bet. Occasionally Charlie Lester is equally wicked. Now and then Miss Lester yields to that vice. Well, as you know, we are far from a telegraph here; and we were much annoyed, Charlie and I, that we could not take advantage of our fresh information to bet on the horse--to put something on, as we say. Miss Lester regretted also, when I told her the news, that she had nothing on--the horse. Do you begin to understand, ladies?" The ladies glanced at one another in some confusion. Miss Grey looked angry and suspicious. "And the boots?" she said. "To put your boots on a horse," explained the captain politely, "is a slang expression for betting your entire available fortune on his success. Another expression is to put your shirt----" "Sir!" said Miss Grey. But Miss Grey's sway was ended. Maggie burst into a fresh fit of laughter, and, after a moment's pause the whole company followed suit. Miss Grey turned and left the room. The next day she left the hotel; she could not face her victorious foes. Captain Petrie insisted on handing her into the omnibus, saying as he did so, "Be easy, my dear madam. In future it shall be my care to see that Miss Lester has something on." NOT A BAD DEAL.