"Oh, I say, that's not fair!" exclaimed Jack. "You promised to be with me to see the race, Rada, you know you did." He scowled offensively upon Pierce.
"I can't help it," said Rada easily. "I've come down with the party and I've got to be with them. You looked quite happy without me, Jack." She cast a glance in the direction of the stalls, where Daisy Simpson was now sunning herself, smiling upon a tall, fair man, who had just taken his place beside her. "I've no doubt that your friend over there will effectively fill my place," she added meaningly.
"Oh, you're jealous!" Jack exclaimed. "I can see that. But Daisy Simpson's a jolly fine girl, and I'm glad to have met her again." He spoke with intentional malice. "Now look here, Rada," he went on, "if you can't be with me to see the race I want a word with you here. I'll take you back to the coach afterwards. We'll have this matter out once and for all, see?"
"Very well." Rada turned to Pierce, who had been standing a little apart. "Will you excuse me for a few minutes, Mr. Trelawny?" she said. "If you'll go back to the coach I'll join you there very soon."
Pierce nodded, and Rada and Jack moved away together.
"Now I want to have a definite understanding with you, Miss Rada," Jack said roughly, after they had taken a few steps. "Do you mean to marry me, or don't you? I'm not the sort of man to be kept dangling for long at the end of a piece of string. If you want to cry off, say so. Clear up the money you and your father owe me and have done with it." He cast a furtive glance from under his heavy brows in the direction of Daisy Simpson. "I don't believe you care a hang for me, really," he went on, "while Daisy—well, I've just been having a chat with her and she's as fond of me now as ever she was. London's made a different woman of her too, as you can see for yourself. She's the kind of girl any chap might be proud of."
"No doubt you're quite right, Jack," said Rada. "I can quite understand Miss Simpson's attraction for you."
"Well, I'm talking straight to you, aren't I? If you want to give me the chuck, just say so. Though, mind you," he repeated threateningly, "I shall expect payment in full. That's plain enough, what?"
"It's very plain, Jack," replied Rada quietly, "and really I think I had better pay you the money. If Castor wins I can do so quite easily." A shade of anxiety crossed her brow as she spoke. If Castor won! Yes, it was upon that that she had been depending to escape from this foolish tangle in which she had involved herself. If Castor won she could pay Jack what she owed him, and be free. But then, on the other hand, if Castor won, what would be the consequence to Mostyn Clithero?
"Oh, Castor will win right enough." Jack tugged at his scrappy moustache and smiled maliciously. "You can take that as a tip from me, Rada, though it's your own horse we're talking about. Castor's going to win, my word upon it." He chuckled under his breath. "I've seen to that," he added.