"I think she said she was going to London to meet her father." "He's bringing one or two horses from Australia; he has a great opinion of them; I must try and convince him ours are better." "Strange how some men are so fascinated by horses," said Fraser. "You care nothing about them?" said Alan, with a tinge of contempt in his voice. "No, they have never interested me; perhaps it is because I never had any spare time for them; I've been a worker all my life." "You despise racing men?" "Oh no; I think some of them are uncommonly sharp," said Duncan. "They are too sharp sometimes," laughed Alan. CHAPTER IX THE MAN UNDER THE LAMP "Sorry I have not called before," said Alan, as he shook hands with Ella Hallam, "but by way of a change I have been busy." "I thought you were always busy," she replied. "On the contrary, I am afraid I neglect my duties sometimes, but then I have such an excellent manager." "Mr. Fraser?" "Yes. You have met him; what do you think of him?" asked Alan. "I like him. He struck me as a man of strong character," she answered. "He is. He has a wonderful grasp of everything connected with the firm," said Alan. Eve entered the room. She said: "I thought you had forgotten I lived at The Forest." Alan laughed. "I'm not likely to forget that," he said. "My father arrives next week," said Ella. "I have written to him; he will get the letter at Naples. I told him you were anxious to test the merits of his horses." "He is coming here," said Eve. "I thought it would be nice for Ella to welcome him at The Forest." "And I shall be delighted to show him round; he will be interested in my stud," said Alan. "I hear it is one of the best in England," said Ella. "I think it compares favorably with most of them," he answered. He remained about an hour, declined to stay for lunch, and Eve did not press him. He motored to the stud and found Sam Kerridge, his stud groom, waiting for him. Sam had been at the stud since its foundation. He was a clever man with horses, an excellent judge, and a shrewd buyer. "That American has been here again," he said. "He's dead set on buying Mameluke; I have tried to convince him he's not for sale." "So have I," said Alan with a laugh. "Perhaps he thinks you can persuade me to part with him; Valentine Braund is a persevering man." "Like most Americans, he has plenty of cheek," said Sam. "It's a big offer he has made." "Thirty thousand, and Mameluke's not a young horse," said Alan. "It's tempting," said Sam. "I have half a mind to take it," said Alan. "There's Alfonso coming on; he ought to make a name for himself." "He will. I think he'll beat Mameluke's record," said Sam. "That will be difficult. What did you say to Braund?" "Not much; he didn't seem to believe me when I said money would not buy him." "I'll think it over; it's a big price," said Alan.