“Yes; I was there two days.”
“Did your Uncle Wilton invite you down?”
“No, but Claud did, for a bit of shooting.”
“Humph!” ejaculated Garstang thoughtfully, and the young man stood gazing at him intently. Then his manner changed, and he took one of the easy chairs, drew it forward, and seated himself, to sit leaning forward, and began speaking confidentially.
“Look here, step-father,” he half-whispered, “I’ve been down there twice. I suspected it the first time; yesterday I was certain. They’re playing a deep game there.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes. I saw through it at once. They’re running Claud for the stakes.”
“Please explain yourself, my good fellow; I do not understand racing slang.”
“Well, then, they mean Claud to marry Kate, and I’m not going to stand by and see that done.”
“By the way, I thought Claud was your confidential friend.”