After that he pretended to take no interest whatever in Frank’s movements, but he noted that Merry left the clubhouse for the small one adjoining and rightly decided that he had resolved to go over the course at once. A few minutes later he encountered Carl Prince and Clifford Clyde.
“Looking for you, Hollingsworth,” said Prince. “We’re going to start out to explore the course.”
“Are you?” asked the trainer.
“Why, of course!” exclaimed Clyde. “That was understood. You agreed to go with us.”
“I believe I did,” admitted the Englishman.
“You made us promise to be on hand so you could. Sheldon is here somewhere, and I saw Bramwell not ten minutes ago.”
“Unfortunately,” said Hollingsworth, “I can’t start so early in the day.”
“How is that?”
“I have some important business to which I must give my attention.”
“Well, that’s fine!” cried Clyde sarcastically. “Is there anything more important just now than seeing that we are properly prepared for this race?”