'I don't even know where the horse is, nor if he is here at all. Will you call that handsome treatment Mr. Hinton?'
'One thing I am quite sure of, Mr. Burke—Captain O'Grady is incapable of anything unworthy or unbecoming a gentleman; the haste of his departure for foreign service may have prevented him observing certain matters of etiquette towards you, but he has commissioned me to accept your terms. The horse is here, or will be here to-night; and I trust nothing will interrupt the good understanding that has hitherto subsisted between you.'
'And will he take up the writ?' 'He will,' said I firmly.
'He must have a heavy book on the race.' 'Nearly a thousand pounds.'
'I'm sorry for it for his sake,' was the cool reply, 'for he'll lose his money.'
'Indeed!' said I; 'I understand that you thought well of his horse, and that with your riding——'
'Ay; but I won't ride for him.'
'You won't ride!—not on your own terms?'
'No; not even on my own terms. Don't be putting yourself into a passion, Mr. Hinton—you've come down to a country where that never does any good; we settle all our little matters here in a social, pleasant way of our own. But, I repeat it, I won't ride for your friend; so you may withdraw his horse as soon as you like; except,' added he, with a most contemptuous sneer, 'you have a fancy for riding him yourself.'
Resolving that whatever course I should follow I would at least keep my temper for the present, I assumed as much calmness as I could command, and said—