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of that five…pound note； but Richard （who had never seen him before）
assured me； with his usual confidence； that he was 〃straight as a die〃 and
〃as honest as the day。〃
The race excited me exceedingly； Richard had lent me a field…glass
（for everything he had was in duplicate； if not triplicate）； and I watched
the progress of that running rainbow with a beating heart。 At first Yellow
Cap （the Don） seemed completely out of it； the last of all； but presently he
began to creep up； and as they drew near the winning…post； shouts of
〃Yellow Cap wins！〃 〃Yellow Cap wins！〃 rent the air。 He did win by a head；
and with a well…pleased flush on my face at my friend's marvellous good
fortune； I turned to congratulate him。 He was gone。 The tumult and
confusion were excessive； but looking toward the exit gate； I just caught a
glimpse of the book…maker passing rapidly through it； and then of Richard
in pursuit of him。
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A stout young farmer； whom I knew； was standing behind me； and in a
few hurried words I told him what had happened。 〃Come with me；〃 he
said； and off we ran； as though we had been entered for the cup ourselves。
The other two were already a field ahead； and far away from the course；
but； fast as the book…maker ran； the delicate Richard had come up with
him。 I could imagine how pumped he was； but the idea of having been
swindled by this scoundrel； who was running off with his five…pound note；
as well as the fifty pounds he owed him； had no doubt lent him wings。 It
could not； however； lend him strength； nor teach him the art of self…
defence； and after a few moments； passed doubtless in polite request and
blunt refusal； we saw the miscreant strike out from the shoulder and
Richard go down。
The time thus lost； however； short…lived as was the combat； was fatal
to the victor。 There were few better runners in Dalton than my companion
and myself； and we gained on the book…maker； who had probably trained
on gin and bad tobacco； hand over hand。 As we drew near him he turned
round and inquired； with many expletives； made half inarticulate by want
of breath； what we wanted with a gentleman engaged on his own private
affairs。
〃Well；〃 I said；for as I could trust my agricultural friend with the more
practical measures that were likely to follow I thought it only fair that I
should do the talking；〃we want first the five…pound note which that
young gentleman； whom you have just knocked down； intrusted to your
care； and then the fifty pounds you have lost to him。〃
He called Heaven to witness that he had never made a bet in his life
with any young gentleman； but that； having been molested； he believed by
a footpad； as he was returning home to his family； he had been compelled
to defend himself。
〃I heard you make the bet and saw you take the money；〃 I remarked；
with confidence。
〃That's good enough；〃 said the farmer。 〃Now if you don't shell out that
money this instant； I'll have you back in the ring in a brace of shakes and
tell them what has happened。 Last year they tore a welsher pretty nigh to
pieces； and this year； if you don't 'part；' they'll do it quite。〃
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The book…maker turned livid；I never saw a man in such a funk in my
life；and produced a greasy pocket…book； out of which he took Richard's
bank…note； and ten quite new ones； and I noticed there were more left； so
that poverty was not his excuse for fraud。
〃Let me look at 'em against the sun；〃 said the farmer； 〃to see as the
water…mark is all right。〃
This was a precaution I should never have thought of； and it gave me
for the first time a sense of the great intelligence of my father's
parishioner。
〃Yes； they're all correct。 And now you may go； but if ever you show
your face again on Southick （Southwick） race…course it will be the worst
for you。〃
He slunk away； and we returned to Richard； who was sitting on the
ground； looking at his nose； which was bleeding and had attained vast
dimensions。
〃Did you get the money？〃 were his first words； which I thought very
characteristic。
〃Yes； there it is； squireten fivers and your own note。〃
〃Very good； I should never have seen a shilling of it but for you and
Charley； so we will just divide it into three shares。〃
The farmer said； 〃No；〃 but eventually took his L16 13s。 4d。； and quite
right too。 Of course I did not take Richard's money； but he afterward
bought me a rifle with it； which I could not refuse。 The farmer； as may be
well imagined； could be trusted to say nothing of our adventure； but it was
impossible to hide Richard's nose。 He was far too honest a fellow to tell a
lie about it； and the whole story came out。 His father was dreadfully
shocked at it； and Lady Jane in despair： the one about his gambling
propensities； and the other about his nose； she thought； if the injury did not
prove fatal； he would be disfigured for life。
He was well in a week； but the circumstances had the gravest
consequences。 It was decided that something must be done with the heir of
the Luscombes to wean him from low company （this was not me； but
grooms and racing people）； but even this predilection was ascribed in part
to his fragile constitution。 A fashionable physician came down from
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London to consider the case。 He could not quite be brought to the point
desired by Lady Jane； to lay Richard's love of gambling at the door of the
delicacy of his lungs； but he was brought very near it。 The young fellow；
his 〃opinion〃 was； had been brought up too much like a hothouse flower；
his tastes were what they were chiefly because he had no opportunities of
forming better ones； with improved strength his moral nature would
become more elevated。 That he was truthful was a great source of
satisfaction （this was with reference to his distinct refusal to give up
gambling to please anybody） and a most wholesome physical sign。 〃My
recommendation is that he should be temporarily removed