"
"And I."
"And I."
"And I."
"Well, mark my words," said a fourth, rather solemnly, "Rat-
trap wins."
"There is not a horse except Caravan," said Lord Milford, "fit
for a borough stake."
"You used to be all for Phosphorus, Egremont," said Lord
Eugene de Vere.
"Yes; but fortunately I have got out of that scrape. I owe
Phip Dormer a good turn for that. I was the third man who
knew he had gone lame."
"And what are the odds against him now."
"Oh! nominal; forty to one,--what you please."
"He won't run," said Mr Berners, "John Day told me he had
refused to ride him."
"I believe Cockie Graves might win something if Phosphorus
came in first," said Lord Milford, laughing.
"How close it is to-night!" said Egremont. "Waiter, give me
some Seltzer water; and open another window; open them all."
At this moment an influx of guests intimated that the assembly
at Lady St Julian's was broken up. Many at the table rose and
yielded their places, clustering round the chimney-piece, or
forming in various groups, and discussing the great question.
Several of those who had recently entered were votaries of
Rat-trap, the favourite, and quite prepared, from all the
information that had reached them, to back their opinions
valiantly.
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