"Well — you see — it's my brother… I'm afraid he's rather young and — well, silly. He's been backing horses. He's lost a lot of money, ever so much more than he can pay. You must know how easy it is. Putting on more and more to try and make up for his losses, and still losing… Well, he works in a bank; and his bookmaker's threatened to write to the manager if he doesn't pay up. Of course Derek would lose his job at once…"
Mr. Lesbon sighed.
"Dear me!" he said.
"Oh, I'm not trying to ask for money! Don't think that. I shouldn't be such a fool. But — well, Derek's made a friend of a man who's a trainer. His name's Farrell — I've met him, and I think he's quite straight. He's tried to make Derek give up betting, but it wasn't any good. However, he's got a horse in his stable called Hill Billy — I don't know anything about horses, but apparently Farrell said Hill Billy would be a certainty tomorrow if your horse didn't win. He advised Derek to do something about it — clear his losses and give it up for good." The girl twisted her handkerchief nervously. "He said — please don't think I'm being rude, Mr. Lesbon, but I'm just trying to be honest — he said you didn't always want to win — and — and — perhaps if I came and saw you —"
She looked up at Rickaway's owner with liquid eyes, her lower lip trembling a little. Mr. Lesbon's breath came a shade faster.
"I know Farrell," he said, as quietly as he could. "I had a horse in his stable last year, and he asked me to take it away — just because I didn't always want to win with it. He's changed his principles rather suddenly."
"I–I'm sure he'd never have done it if it wasn't for Derek, Mr. Lesbon. He's really fond of the boy. Derek's awfully nice. He's a bit wild, but… Well, you see, I'm four years older than he is, and I simply have to look after him. I'd do anything for him."
Lesbon cleared his throat.
"Yes, yes, my dear. Naturally." He patted her hand. "I see your predicament. So you want me to lose the race. Well, if Farrell's so fond of Derek, why doesn't he scratch Hill Billy and let the boy win on Rickaway?"
"Because — oh, I suppose I can't help telling you. He said no one ever knew what your horses were going to do, and perhaps you mightn't be wanting to win with Rickaway tomorrow."