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Chifney and Preiston the head-lad hurried them, shouting orders, admonishing, inciting to greater rapidity of action. And the boys were sulky. The thick morning had promoted hopes of an hour or two of unwonted idleness. Now those poor, little hopes were summarily blighted.
Jaggers, with the air of the Grand Inquisitor, appeared on the platform with his head-lad, Rushton. The trainer entered into talk with a man whom Albert informed his mistress was a cop in plain clothes. "Place swarms with 'em," the youth whispered. "And Ikey's Own. They're takin' no chances." In fact, Mocassin and her two stable-companions were travelling on the same train as the Putnam horse.
Both had a wide knowledge of human nature, especially on its seamy side, based on a profound experience of life. Monkey Brand had never been quite in the front rank of cross-country riders. At no time had he emerged from the position of head-lad, nor apparently had he wished to do so. It may be that he lacked ambition, or was aware of his limitations.
There were few more familiar figures at the bar of The Sefton Arms at National time than that of Monkey Brand, and this year few more pathetic ones. It was soon bruited abroad that Old Mat and his head-lad had parted after more years of association than many cared to recall. And it was clear that the little man felt the rupture.
Lady Calmady's long-sustained calm had given way, and she wept. "We buried him, in his blanket, under the big Portugal-laurel, where the nightingale sings, at the corner of the troco-ground, close to Camp the First and Old Camp. The upper servants came, and Chaplin and Hariburt from the house-stables, and Chifney and the head-lad and some of the gardeners.
Joses do," he ended. The trainer nodded. "I guessed as much," he said. "I'll make inquiries." Two days later Old Mat called his head-lad into the office. He was in his socks and shut the door with precautions. Mystery was the breath of life to both men, who were at heart but children. "Seen Joses lately?" began the old man cautiously. "Not since then, sir," the other answered in the same tone.
"He do love his little bit o' roguey-poguey," he would say with a twinkle. And it was the old man's opinion, often expressed, that weight for age Monkey would beat the crooks at their own game every time. And when he set the little jockey to snout about and rout out the business of Joses, he knew he was setting his head-lad a task after his heart.
Here, Rushton, go and see what they're layin' Four-Pound." The head-lad went and returned immediately. "Thirties offered, sir. No takers." Jaggers shook his head. "I don't like it," he said. All morning, carriages, coaches, silent-moving motorcars, char-
And Richard Calmady, meanwhile, lay still and very fairly peaceful upon the narrow camp-bed in the middle of the room. He had lain there, save during one hour, the memory of which haunted Katherine with hideous and sickening persistence, ever since Tom Chifney, the head-lad from the stables, and a couple of grooms had carried him in, on a hurdle, from the steeple-chase course four days ago.
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