The Duke had been
urgent. The Jockey Club, and the racing world, and the horsey
fraternity generally, might do what seemed to them good,--so that
Silverbridge was extricated from the matter. Silverbridge was
extricated,--and the Duke cared nothing for the rest.
But Silverbridge could not get out of the mess quite so easily as
his father wished. Two questions arose about Major Tifto, outside
the racing world, but within the domain of the world of sport and
pleasure generally, as to one of which it was impossible that
Silverbridge should not express an opinion. The first question had
reference to the mastership of the Runnymede hounds. In this our
young friend was not bound to concern himself. The other affected
the Beargarden Club; and as Lord Silverbridge had introduced the
Major, he could hardly forbear from the expression of an opinion.
There was a meeting of the subscribers to the hunt in the last
week of October. At that meeting Major Tifto told his story. There
he was, to answer any charge which might be brought against him.
If he had made money by losing the race,--where was it and whence
had it come? Was it not clear that a conspiracy might have been
made without his knowledge;--and clear also that the real
conspirators had levanted? He had not levanted! The hounds were
his own.
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