"You don't mean——?" began the Mistress, excitedly.
"I don't mean anything," the Superintendent hurried to forestall her. "I'm paid to take charge of this Show. It's no affair of mine if——"
"If Mr. Glure chooses to invent Hugh Lester Maury and make him give a Gold Hat for a collie prize?" suggested the Mistress. "But——"
"I didn't say so," denied the superintendent. "And it's none of my business, anyhow. Here's——"
"But why should Mr. Glure do such a thing?" asked the Mistress, in wonder. "I never heard of his shrinking coyly behind another name when he wanted to spend money. I don't understand why he——"
"Here is the conditions-list for the Maury Specialty Cup," interposed the superintendent with extreme irrelevance, as he handed her a pink slip of paper. "Glance over it."
The Mistress took the slip and read aloud for the benefit of the Master who was still glowering at the Gold Hat:
"Conditions of Contest for Hugh Lester Maury Gold Cup:
"'First.—No collie shall be eligible that has not already taken at least one blue ribbon at a licensed American or British Kennel Club Show.'"