Some men said he was over eighty now.
"Well, sir," he wheezed, "I see you take it good and game."
"No good crying over spilt milk," replied Silver.
The old trainer raised his hand as he settled in his seat.
"Don't tell me," he said. "It's them there li'bilities. I was always agin 'em. Said so to Boy four year back. 'Cash in 'and's one thing,' I says. 'And li'bilities is another and totally different.'" He lifted a keen blue eye. "I understand from what Mr. Haggard tell me, you could ha' dodged 'em out o' some of it—only you was too straight." He held up a disapproving finger. "That's just where you done wrong, Mr. Silver. No good ever come o' bein' too straight, as I often says to Mar. You're only askin' for trouble—same as the Psalmist says. And now you got to pay for it."
"Well, they're all satisfied now," laughed Silver. "And so am I."
"I should think they was," snorted Mat Woodburn. "I see 'em settin' round, swellin' and swellin', and rubbin' their fat paunches. Think they'll keep a nag among the lot of 'em! Not so much as a broken-down towel-hoss."
Silver stared out of the window.
"I shall have to sell the horses," he said.
The old man banged the table.