A couple of glasses of whisky and soda loosened Bricky's tongue, and he talked volubly. Gradually Abe Moss led him on to the subject he desired, but the moment he hinted at anything connected with Kenley's stable Bricky became reserved. "He's not primed sufficiently," thought Moss, and called for more liquor. They sat down and Moss said-- "If you'll do me a favour, Bricky, I'll make it worth your while." "Depends upon what it is," he replied. "There's no harm in it. I merely wish to know your opinion about a couple of horses." "Is that all?" "Yes." "Which horses?" "Lucky Boy and Black Boy." Bricky laughed as he replied-- "I fancy you know as much as I do about them, perhaps more, especially about Black Boy." "Was that a straight go the other morning, when Lucky Boy won?" asked Abe. "You know Joel Kenley, and that ought to be sufficient. The trial was straight enough." "Then you think Lucky Boy is the better of the pair?" "He must be on that form, and the market tells the same tale," replied Bricky. "I don't care a hang for the market, figures can be faked anyhow. You have not told me your opinion. Come, I'll give you a couple of sovs. for it, that's a professional fee." Bricky thought there was no harm in expressing his private opinion, it would not be betraying any stable secrets, for it was well known that Joel Kenley preferred Lucky Boy. A couple of sovs. under such circumstances were not to be despised. "I can only go by the trial," he said. "That is the safest guide, but if you want to know which of the pair is my favourite I may tell you it's Black Boy. Don't run away with the idea that he'll beat the other fellow in the Cup, although I would like to see him do it, Joel knows more about it than I do." "You have not told me much," said Abe, "but here's a couple of sovs. You really prefer Black Boy to Lucky Boy?" "As a horse, yes, but whether he will beat him in the Sydney Cup remains to be seen." "Which shall you back?" "I have no money to back horses with," said Bricky. "You had plenty at one time." "I had and did it on like a fool. I daresay you had some of it." Abe Moss laughed, he thought this probable, as he had an interest in one or two books and had often played cards and billiards with Bricky.