"I did, I know, but that won't have to be paid for a year."
"Well, it will have to be paid some time. However, I don't mind that so much. What is frightening me is the small amount of actual money in hand. We have four months before us, and only a little over sixty pounds for that four months. Now, I want to propose something."
"Yes?"
"It's this. Why not give me that sixty pounds to keep and pay the expenses out of? If you keep it, it will be gone in a month."
Mr. French scratched his head. Then he laughed.
"Faith, perhaps you're right," said he.
"I know I am right. It is only by saving and scraping that we will tide over these four months. Now you have that money in the bank. We calculated that it will just cover your racing expenses; the money you will require for bringing the horse to Colonel What's-his-name's stable at Epsom before the race, the money you will require for backing the horse—in fact, for the whole business—leaving fifty pounds over in case of disaster."
"Yes."
"Well, I want you to lock your cheque-book up in a drawer and give me the key, and promise not to touch that money on any account."
"I won't touch it," said French, with the air of a schoolboy making a resolution about apples.