This answer was a mere trifle, but it somewhat shook Baron
Trigault's confidence. "You have been slandered!" he muttered.

"Abominably. Last Sunday the best horse in my stables, Domingo,
came in third. He was the favorite in the ring. You can
understand the rest. I have been accused of manoeuvering to have
my own horse beaten. People have declared that it was my interest
he should be beaten, and that I had an understanding with my
jockey to that effect. This is an every-day occurrence, I know
very well; but, as regards myself, it is none the less an infamous
lie!"

"Who has dared to circulate such a report?"

"Oh, how can I tell? It is a fact, however, that the story has
been circulated everywhere, but in such a cautious manner that
there is no way of calling the authors to account. They have even
gone so far as to say that this piece of knavery brought me in an
enormous sum, and that I used Rochecotte's, Kervaulieu's, and
Coralth's names in betting against my own horse."

The baron's agitation was so great that M. de Valorsay observed
it, though he did not understand the cause. Living in the same
society with the Baroness Trigault, and knowing her story, he
thought that Coralth's name might, perhaps, have irritated the
baron. "And so," he quickly continued, "don't be surprised if,
during the coming week, you see the sale of my horses announced."

"What! you are going to sell----"