"Can't leave Four-Pound's box, sir," the jockey answered, turning in his lips. "Else the 'orse frets himself into a sweat."
Silver was dissatisfied. He was still more so when two days later after dark he came on two men in close communion in the lane at the back of the Lads' Barn.
They were standing in the shadow of the Barn out of the moon. But that his senses were alert, and his suspicions roused, he would not have detected them, for they hushed into sudden silence as he passed.
He flashed an electric torch on to them.
The two were Joses and Monkey Brand.
He was not surprised, nor, it seemed, were they.
Monkey Brand touched his hat.
"Good-night, sir," he said cordially.
"Good-night," said Silver coldly. "Good-night, Mr. Joses!"
The tout rumbled ironically.