“I have been asked to be sole referee in this matter,” said he. “Does that meet with your wishes, Sir Charles?”
“I should be vastly obliged to you, Craven, if you will undertake the duties.”
“And Jackson has been suggested as timekeeper.”
“I could not wish a better one.”
“Very good. That is settled.”
In the meantime the last of the carriages had come up, and the horses had all been picketed upon the moor. The stragglers who had dotted the grass had closed in until the huge crowd was one unit with a single mighty voice, which was already beginning to bellow its impatience. Looking round, there was hardly a moving object upon the whole vast expanse of green and purple down. A belated gig was coming at full gallop down the road which led from the south, and a few pedestrians were still trailing up from Crawley, but nowhere was there a sign of the missing man.
“The betting keeps up for all that,” said Belcher. “I’ve just been to the ring-side, and it is still even.”
“There’s a place for you at the outer ropes, Sir Charles,” said Craven.
“There is no sign of my man yet. I won’t come in until he arrives.”
“It is my duty to tell you that only ten minutes are left.”