Book 1 Chapter 2



"Will any one do anything about Hybiscus?" sang out a
gentleman in the ring at Epsom. It was full of eager groups;
round the betting post a swarming cluster, while the magic
circle itself was surrounded by a host of horsemen shouting
from their saddles the odds they were ready to receive or
give, and the names of the horses they were prepared to back
or to oppose.

"Will any one do anything about Hybiscus?"

"I'll give you five to one," said a tall, stiff Saxon peer, in
a white great coat.

"No; I'll take six."

The tall, stiff peer in the white great coat mused for a
moment with his pencil at his lip, and then said, "Well, I'll
give you six. What do you say about Mango?"

"Eleven to two against Mango," called out a little humpbacked
man in a shrill voice, but with the air of one who was master
of his work.

"I should like to do a little business with you, Mr
Chippendale," said Lord Milford in a coaxing tone, "but I must