'I don't
understand all this that's going on, my Lord,' he said.
'Neither do I,' replied Silverbridge.
'Any horse is subject to an accident. I am, I suppose, as great a
sufferer as you are, and deuced sight less able to bear it.'
'Who said anything to the contrary? As for bearing it, we must
take it as it comes,--both of us. You may as well know now as later
that I have done with racing--for ever.'
'What do you do you tell me that for? You can do as you like and I
can do as I like about that. If I had my way about the horse this
never would have happened. Taking a horse out at that time in the
morning,--before a race!'
'Why, you went out with him yourself.'
'Yes;---by Pook's orders. You allowed Pook to do just as he
pleased. I should like to know what money Pook had got on it, and
which way he laid it.' This disgusted Silverbridge so much that
he turned away and would have no more to say to Tifto.
Before one o'clock, at which hour it was stated nominally that the
races would commence, general opinion had formed itself,--and
general opinion had nearly hit the truth.
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