The fat man, who had not seen the jockey in the dusk, drew up short.
"What's that?" he said keenly.
"That wire business," continued the little man in the same monotonous undertone without moving his lips. "Ought to be able to do a little better than that with an edication like yours. Where's the good of Oxford else?"
Joses came closer swiftly.
"See here, Monkey Brand," he said. "Do you mean business, or don't you?"
The jockey's face was inscrutable.
"I never said no to good business yet," he answered.
"This is good business all right," laughed the tout. "Big money, and safe as houses."
At the moment a voice called from the office.
"Comin,' sir," answered the little jockey. "That's the Gov'nor. Back o' Lads' Barn. Eight o'clock," he whispered, and was gone.